Police were forced to fire on villagers, clarifies Buddhadeb : India World

Kolkata, March 15 Amid a walkout by opposition members, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya told the state assembly Thursday that the police had no other option but to fire on protesting villagers at Nandigram leading to the deaths of 14 people.

Accepting the Calcutta High Court's order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the police firing, Bhattacharya said: 'Police first resorted to tear-gassing and then fired rubber bullets. When that failed to deter the crowd they opened fire.'

'At least 14 people have died so far and 71 were injured. Of the injured, 42 were policemen. About 20 firearms were seized,' he told the assembly even as opposition Trinamool Congress and Congress members wore black badges, shouted slogans, carried anti-government placards and walked out of the house.

'I condole the deaths. Any death is sad and unfortunate and it could be best avoided.'

Defending the police action, Bhattacharya said: 'For nearly two-and-a-half months there was no administrative control in Nandigram. The police did not enter to grab the land but to restore administrative control.'

'About 2,500 CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) supporters were rendered homeless since the violence broke out there (in protest against acquisition of farmland for industry). About 1,000 are still living in camps,' he said.

'A cop was also killed nearby and something or other was occurring since Jan 3. The district magistrate had called an all-party meeting on March 10 but no opposition party turned up,' the chief minister said.

'It was my government's decision that no acquisition would be made in Nandigram if the people there did not want it. The notification by the Haldia Development Authority (HDA) was a wrong move, I accept,' he said.

'The plan to set up a chemical hub there was because of the place's proximity to Haldia which has witnessed industrialisation. We wanted Nandigram to develop as well. The chemical hub was the central government's decision and West Bengal was selected for it,' he said.

'The situation is under control now and I hope that peace will return there. I have not ordered a judicial inquiry because there is already a CBI inquiry ordered and we too want a proper inquiry,' he said.