Now, turf war moves to Nanur

Trinamool Congress, Left blame each other for starting violence

Widespread violence erupted today when armed supporters of the ruling CPI(M) and its main political adversary TMC got involved in fierce clash at Nanur in Birbhum district.

In the day-long battle, both sides freely used bombs and fired from muskets. At least 22 people were wounded according to preliminary reports given by police. Reports of sporadic clashes from the adjoining villages are still coming despite posting of a huge police force there.

While the leaders of the warring groups have blamed each other for starting the violence, the state home secretary Ardhendu Sen has admitted that a battle to establish physical control over the area sparked off the clashes.

Ever since the debacle of the Left in the general elections, the battle to take control of villages by rival political parties has begun in right earnest. The TMC started this first in East Midnapur around Nandigram, then in South 24 Parganas. The CPI(M) retaliated with counter violence in Burdwan and Hooghly districts. Yesterday, at Khanakul in Hooghly district, armed CPI(M) activists attacked TMC supporters and in the ensuing clash, some 35 people including one policeman were injured and some houses were looted. Clashes are still continuing in that area.

The TMC supporters in Kolkata promptly took to the street and started 'dharna and road block' at Esplanade. Mamata Banerjee was at Nandigram today where she addressed a mammoth rally. The meeting was organised by the TMC to observe the mourning for the death of some villagers there who had been killed on this fateful day two years back. Armed CPI(M) cadres and police had attacked the villages in Nandigram and "liberated" it after breaking the resistance of the villagers there on this day. Amid all-round protest led by the Governor, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose had justified the act by saying, "It was sunrise at Nandigram".

While addressing the rally at Nandigram, Mamata observed that at Nanur and Khanakul, police were taking a passive role allowing the CPI(M) to take the upper hand. Mamata announced that her party would organise protest march in all the districts against the CPI(M). Denying the allegation against her party of having link with the Naxalites, Mamata claimed that on the contrary there existed a close link between the CPI(M) and the Naxalites. "Naxalist is the mask and CPI(M) is the face," she commented.