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Hired Goons of CPIM opened fire on peaceful rallies
killing several and injuring hundreds in Nandigram
November 13, 2007
Several villagers in Nandigram, mostly women and children, died when the armed goons of CPIM (the ruling party in West Bengal, India) opened fire on a peaceful rally of the villagers on 11 November 2007.
Official sources confirmed the death of three villagers, whereas other sources claimed that more than 40 villagers died in this violence in Nandigram.
In reaction to this heinous crime, civil society representatives, media and prominent personalities of West Bengal and India voiced out their protests. In Kolkata, police arrested many civil society representatives and banned rallies and mobilizations. When the Central Reserve police Force arrived from Delhi to take control of the situation, they were not allowed to enter Nandigram by the cadres and musclemen of the ruling party.
In the name of facilitating the return of CPIM supporters who were driven out of Nandigram by the villagers due to their association with mass murder and gender violence during 14th march incident in Nandigram, hired armed goons and supporters of the ruling party have unleashed unprecedented terror on the helpless villagers in Nandigram killing many and injuring hundreds more. Villagers from Nandigram Block 1 and Block 2 have fled to temporary relief shelters to avoid further attacks, while the armed goons of CPIM have allegedly combed the villages, looted properties, burned down huts and inflicted gender violence on village women whoever they have come across. The ruling party has taken systematic steps to completely wipe out all oppositions in Nandigram at gun point and have restricted the movements of media and the civil society in that area by force.
The police remained a silent spectator during the violent attacks in Nandigram. Instead of upholding law and order there, police at the behest of CPIM, refused to give protection to the villagers, thus allowing the situation to worsen in the area.
More than 40,000 homeless poor in Nandigram are spending sleepless nights in temporary relief shelters. They have lost everything including their huts and small assets which would allow them to earn a living. Their livelihoods are at stake, their food security is endangered. These people are victims of state-led terror and violation of human rights. Even prominent civil society activists who have tried to reach the victims with relief are arrested and harassed by the police.
The CPIM goons and supporters have taken control of almost all villages of Nandigram. The lives of those who opposed the land acquisition policy of CPIM are at stake. The villagers are being systematically subjugated by the armed mercenaries of CPIM in Nandigram as a precondition to live in their villages. This violates all democratic principles and human rights. Moreover, no steps have been taken so far to restore, peace, law and order and democratic processes in Nandigram. The state government has not assured the victims with any compensation and/or rehabilitation for the damage and loss that they suffered.
Civil society groups have unequivocally condemned the barbaric attacks of the hired and armed goons of CPIM on the villagers and strongly condemned the mass murder committed by them in Nandigram. Civil society representatives have urged for the immediate restoration of peace, law and order and democratic processes there. They have further urged the central government to immediately intervene in this matter of large scale violation of human rights in Nandigram and ensure the livelihood security of all the villagers there.
Finally they have demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister Shri Budhadev Bhattacharya, owing to the role of his government in mass killing in Nandigram, and due to the failure of the government to ensure livelihood security of poor in Nandigram, irrespective of political colour and creed.
Source: IMSE
Mr. Biplap Halim
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