KOLKATA, MAY 8: The West Bengal administration’s bid to send ousted villagers back to their homes in Nandigram suffered a setback on Thursday evening when CPI(M) supporters attacked a group of people being escorted back home by CRPF personnel. The attack took place near Garchakraberia village from where over 400 people had taken shelter in a camp outside the BDO’s office in Nandigram last week.

On Thursday evening, the administration was trying to send 80 villagers back to their homes with a CRPF escort when CPI(M) cadres hurled bombs at them. Soon, a local police contingent was sent to bring the situation under control.

Mamata Banerjee, who had been camping at Tamluk for the past two days, began a dharna immediately after she came to know about the attack. She said such incidents once again proved how desperate the CPI(M) had become to keep Nandigram under its control using force.

The Trinamool Congress chief warned that she would urge her supporters to take up arms for self defence if the situation did not improve. “The state administration would be held responsible for any untoward incident,” she added.

Trinamool Congress leaders said Banerjee would enter Nandigram on Friday and be stationed there till the first phase of panchayat polls get over on May 11. Voters in Nandigram will also vote on the day.

Meanwhile, countering complaints by locals that motorcycle borne CPI(M) cadres were seen roaming through different villages of Nandigram, CPI(M) district committee member Ashok Bera said it was part of the election campaign on two-wheelers, which was common in the area. “Those seen on motorcycles today were local CPI(M) supporters, not people from outside,” he added.

However, Trinamool Congress MLA Sishir Adhikari claimed the CPI(M) was making a last ditch effort to drive out TMC supporters as CRPF personnel would be deployed in the area from Friday.