Nandigram violence: NHRC indicts Bengal govt

In a severe indictment of the Left Front regime in West Bengal for "failing" to prevent the violence in Nandigram, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said the state government should bear the responsibility for the loss of life and property following the attack.

"Since the state government does not appear to have discharged its primary obligation in preventing the attack by CPI(M) cadres, it should bear the responsibility for the loss of life and property following the attack," the NHRC said in its report on the incident.

The investigation report prepared by by a three-member team of the Commission, headed by NHRC Chairperson S Rajendra Babu, highlighted the gravity of the incident, noting that it visited rife-torn area in "very difficult circumstances and when the situation was tense."

"Communication with the local people was also difficult, being still under the trauma of riots and violence," said the report, while elaborating on the entire episode.

The NHRC observed that while local police started losing control over the law and order situation gradually in the area, the villagers were instigated by different political parties to fight against government policy.

Making observations on the incident, the NHRC said agriculture being the only source of livelihood for the farmers, compensation or any other land can be given to them or they should be relocated or be linked to the project for which the land is acquired.