Left shutdown in Nandigram following fresh violence

KOLKATA: The Communist Party of India-Marxist has organised a 24-hour shutdown in Nandigram today to protest against the killing of their local committee secretary, Niranjan Mondal.

There was fresh violence in Nandigram in East Midnapore District of West Bengal after Mondal was gunned down in an exchange of fire between the CPM and the Trinamool Congress activists at Kendemari of Rajaramchawk area on Wednesday afternoon.

Tension gripped the area soon after the incident and many villagers left their houses in fear and took shelter at nearby villages.

The president of the CPI-M's Rajaramchawk local committee, Mandal, who was also a teacher, was returning home from school when the firing took place. The CPM held the Bhumi Ucched Bachao Committee responsible for the murder.
The official toll in the yearlong Nandigram violence over proposed land acquisition by the state Government for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 2007 is 35.

On March 14, 2007, 14 people were killed and hundreds injured in a police firing, while some women were reportedly raped.