The Hindu : National : Bones found in area near Nandigram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 07, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Bones found in area near Nandigram

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The recent flutter caused in the Khejuri area, adjoining Nandigram, following allegations of the discovery of charred bodies of five victims of the recent violence eased somewhat on Thursday after bits of bones were dug out in the presence of officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation, personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force, and under the supervision of a judicial magistrate.

No bodies were found. Investigations were on to find whose bones they were, Inspector-General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said here. The decision to dig up the graves as part of a move to exhume any body that might have been dumped there hurriedly followed a tip-off to the local police, Mr. Kanojia said.

Ever since the news spread, local leaders of both the CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress started claiming that the victims owed allegiance to their parties.

Local CPI(M) leaders said five persons were killed in a bomb attack by supporters of the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh (Resistance against Eviction from Land) Committee on October 28.

A Trinamool Congress leader demanded a separate CBI probe into the events leading to the digging of the graves. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who had been claiming that many more died than officially stated, and were untraced in the violence, demanded in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the House pay attention to the reports of the discovery of the graves.

There had been no fresh violence in the Nandigram-Khejuri area, Mr. Kanojia said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National