Protest against land acquisition kills 5

NANDIGRAM: Violence erupted again in Nandigram with villagers, protesting against land acquisition, fighting pitched battles with the police amidst reports that five persons were killed and scores others injured.

Tension erupted on Wednesday morning when a large contingent of security forces tried to enter various villages in Nandigram area and was faced with stiff resistance from activists of Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh (Land Acquisition Resistance) Committee forcing police to open fire.

GA Srinivas, the Superintendent of Police, who was supervising the operation, said that police had to open fire after teargas shells failed to control the situation.

He, however, was not clear about the number of casualties but said that "a number of people including some policemen must have been killed in the clashes".

Unconfirmed reports said that at least five persons were killed and nearly 50 others were injured.

State Home Secretary PR Roy while confirming the clash between security personnel and protestors, however, told reporters at Kolkata that eight to 10 people were injured.

IG (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia also expressed ignorance about any casualties.

Srinivas also said that clashes occurred when the policemen tried to enter the villages of Bhangabera, Maheshpur and Kalicharanpur, which had been inaccessible to the security personnel since early January when violence had first happened.