'Out Of Bounds For The Administration'

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued thefollowing statement:

On Nandigram Incidents

For two and a half months five gram panchayats in Block I of Nandigram havebeen out of bounds for the administration. Certain elements had resorted toviolence and cut off roads and bridges in the area on the pretext of landacquisition.

CPI(M) members and supporters were driven out of the area. Two thousand andfive hundred people were driven out of the area. More than a thousand people aresheltering in relief camps outside the area. Even after the governmentcategorically declared that no land is being acquired in Nandigram, the Trinamul,Naxalite and other elements refused to allow the administration or police intothe area. Those who did not go along with their disruptive activities weretargeted. Only a few days ago a woman, Sumita Mandal, was raped and killed.

The repeated efforts to have meetings so that peace can be resorted wererebuffed with these parties and elements refusing to attend the meetings.Finally, after an all-Party meeting, which was boycotted by the TrinamulCongress, a decision was taken that the administration must reestablish itsauthority and peace be resorted in the area.

The police entered Nandigram to see that the roads, culverts and bridges arerepaired and the administration restored. They were attacked by brickbatting,bombs and use of pipe guns.

It is regrettable that lives have been lost in police firing. But theorganised elements who utilised bombs and pipe guns on the police have to takethe blame.

The Polit Bureau appeals to the people of West Bengal and in particularNandigram and East Midnapur district to stand unitedly against such disruptiveforces.