Nandigram violence: Cops under CID scanner

The role of the police in the Nandigram violence of 2007 is the focus of the CID's investigation, reveals a progress report filed in the Calcutta High Court today.

After filing a charge-sheet on six persons who went missing during the renewed violence in Nandigram on November 10, 2007, the CID last week examined some police officials, including former East Midnapore SP S S Panda. A source in the CID said there was negligence on the part of the police.

The CID has already examined Champak Chaudhury, former officer in charge of Nandigram police station, and Swapan Sarkar, former CI of Mahishadal posted at Nandigram police station at that time.

CID DIG K Jayraman said a probe on the police was under way, but he could not share details with media now. The charge-sheet has kept the investigation open.

Documents of the state home department accessed by The Indian Express show that the Tekhali police outpost - at Tekhali bridge which joins Nandigram and Khejuri - was closed down on November 6, 2007, after it was attacked by a mob of about 10,000. The attack was allegedly carried out by hired goons of the CPM from the Khejuri side to recapture Nandigram.

According to the documents, the Tekhali outpost was closed following instructions of superiors. The CID is trying to identify the superiors who gave the order, said the source.

The papers also show that Nandigram police station had not deployed a police force at Tekhali bridge on November 10, 2007, though they were deployed there on November 7, 8 and 9. The indication was that the force may have been withdrawn deliberately.

On November 10, 2007, noon, former Nandigram BDO Ashoke Kumar Sarkar requested Bhoomi Uchched Pratirodh Committee leaders not to take out a rally. The rally, heading towards Tekhali bridge from Gakulnagar, had been attacked between 12 pm and 1 pm allegedly by the CPM's armed goons. But the police force did not rush to Tekhali bridge.

... contd.

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