Five persons were injured in clashes between the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress at Jadubari Chowk, Mallikpara and Osman Chowk in Nandigram during a shutdown called by the latter to protest against police inaction in the killings of Yaseen Meer and two-year old Sania Khatoon. Meer and Sania were allegedly killed by CPM cadres during post-poll violence on Thursday.

“Police had to intervene as five persons were injured. Even the police jeep was attacked. Two police personnel were injured in the incident. Fifteen persons have been arrested from Jadubari Chowk,” Pallab Kanti Ghosh, DSP, East Midnapore, said.

Meanwhile, a group of nearly 1,000 villagers took part in a 15-km long walk from Mahespur to Satengabari to bury Meer and Sania. The villagers included nearly 300 Trinamool supporters from Satengabari who had been dispossessed of their homes allegedly by CPI(M) supporters and have been accommodated in camps in Mahespur. Satengabari seethed with tension as many of the uprooted Trinamool supporters vowed to avenge their being driven out of their homes once the elections were over.

Sabina Begum (name changed to protect her identity), Meer’s sister, a Nandigram rape victim who was not allowed to cast her vote on Thursday allegedly by CPI(M) supporters, was also part of the procession.

“I lost my brother as he had organised TC voters to cast their votes ignoring the threat of CPI(M) activists,” she said. The procession which started from Mahespur at around 9 am and reached Satengabari around 10.30 am, was escorted by the police and RAF.

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