At least 500 villagers have sought refuge in the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) in Nandigram on Monday, as clashes between activists of the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) showed no signs of abating.
Nandigram (West Bengal), May 12 : At least 500 villagers have sought refuge in the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) in Nandigram on Monday, as clashes between activists of the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) showed no signs of abating.
The Trinamool Congress and the CPI-M charged each other with instigating violence, ransacking of houses and kidnapping of rival supporters.
Sources said that bombs and guns were used in the clashes.
Trinamool Congress leader Abu Taher claimed that five Trinamool Congress supporters were injured in the clash. CPI-M leader Ashok Guriya, on the other hand, claimed that five of his party supporters were injured. Of them two were admitted to Tamluk hospital and three to Reahpara hospital. Six houses of CPI-M supporters were also ransacked, he claimed.
The Trinamool Congress leader said three party supporters were injured in clashes at Balarampur on Monday morning and were admitted to Nandigram Hospital. Eight persons were injured, five kidnapped and five houses and a shop were ransacked since Sunday night, he said. He also alleged that five houses at Kalicharanpur and one shop at Hajrakata were ransacked by CPI-M supporters.
The Union Home Ministry asked the West Bengal Government to give a detailed report on the matter. It is likely to hold a high-level meeting with senior officials to take stock of the situation on the basis of the report.
A confrontation between CPI-M Member of Parliyament Lakshman Seth and CRPF DIG Alok Raj, who faced charges of molestation in Nandigram had disrupted the first phase of the panchayat polls in Nandigram on Sunday.
The DIG, however, denied the charge.
During the polling, Maoists also detonated a landmine in Purulia, which killed a Border Security Force jawan and injured 11 others, while CPI-M cadres allegedly blocked supporters of the Trinamool Congress from casting votes at some villages in trouble-torn Nandigram.
In the first phase, polling was held in five of 18 districts of West Bengal. Second and third phase of polls would take place on May 14 and 18.
ANI