The November Incident:

A fresh round of violence again errupted in November 2007 as the villagers (CPI-M sympathizers), who had fled Nandigram when the BUPC took over the villages, returned back home. Though the firing and clashes between the two factions had continued ever since the 14 March incident, the intensity was however low. The situation worsened when police pickets were withdrawn in late October, and the CPI-M supporters had the area free for gram dakhal (village capturing).

The villagers claim that the police camps that were posted from March were withdrawn from six points on 1 November.[1] Even the permanent police outpost at Tekhali Bazaar, which had been there for 84 years, was withdrawn.

According to the Superintendent of Police, East Medinipore, Satya Prakash Panda, the order came from his superiors in Kolkata. A sanctioned post, he said, can only be withdrawn with orders from the superior officers.[2] Senior government officials admit that this occurred. The Chief Secretary explained: “After the judgement of the High Court we were a little handicapped. We knew there would be resistance which could result in firing.”

With the police camps withdrawn, in early November the CPI-M supporters closed in on the villages held by the BUPC. The return of the CPI-M supporting villagers was marred by violence unleashed by the ruling party cadre over the resisting BUPC cadre. In villages that were seen as BUPC strongholds such as Sonachura, Adhikaripara, Satengabari, Gokulnagar, CPI-M vigilantes, in vicious acts of political vendetta, looted and burnt down homes of BUPC leaders, beat up supporters and even killed some of them, assaulted and raped their women.

Though there were further meetings held by the district administration with the parties involved, they came to naught. In a meeting held with the District Magistrate, East Medinipore, on 8 November, the BUPC issued a list of 6-Point demands which included, among other things, the prosecution of those responsible for the March 14 violence, compensation for those killed, and the withdrawal of cases against political activists.[4] BUPC also demanded the arrest of CPI-M supporters who were known as common harmads.[5] Once again, the district authorities failed to convincingly address these demands. This lapse too played a significant part in the November violence.

By 11 November, the entire BUPC guarded area had been ‘recaptured’ by the CPI-M cadres and supporters. Many villagers had to flee their homes to escape from the ensued violence. The official death toll is 5, but authorities admit that at least 42 people have been reported missing.[6] The Officer-in-Charge, Nandigram Police Station agreed that several of them may have been killed and their bodies disposed of.

The paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force was eventually deployed on November 12, and although this brought an end to overt violence, threats and intimidation still continue. The security of common villager’s life and livelihood is still in jeopardy even with the CRPF patrolling the areas. There has been little effort to arrest the perpetrators who are roaming free, warning BUPC supporters against filing complaints, demanding their attendance at CPI-M meetings and suggesting that they admit to looting and burning their own homes.[7]

Alok Raj, the DIG of CRPF, said that the police have little interest in arresting the perpetrators of violence. The CRPF was given a list of 180 people against whom there are registered cases of murder. But criminals arrested by the CRPF have all been released by the police. Alok Raj sent an official notice on November 21, saying that a complete list of criminals or wanted persons was yet to be submitted by the local police, and that if those arrested by the CRPF were promptly released by the police, it “will not allow normalcy to return in the area.”[8]

The testimonies of the victims at the relief camps and hospitals, and interviews of the villagers collected by the team suggest that there had been rampant cases of human rights violations, and that the villagers are even now intimidated and scared to go back to their homes as the threat of violence from the CPI-M harmads is still very real to them.

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[1] The 6 points were –
- Takapura Basic School - Kamalpur Tekia High school - Ranichowk High school - Gokulnagar High school - Satengabari Bazaar- Bhangabera, Sonachura Bridge bunker.
[2] Interview with Satya Prakash Panda, Superintendent of Police, East Medinipore, November 29, 2007.
[4] The District Magistrate in an interview on 28^th Nov. told us that the BUPC made six demands: 1) Take action against persons responsible for firing on14^th March. 2) Compensation for those killed. 3) Withdrawal of cases against political persons. 4) Withdrawal of Nandigram from HDA (Haldia Development Authority). 5) Stop the continued firing. 6) Start development projects.
[5] Harmad is a Benglai term used by the local villagers to describe goons.
[6] BUPC activists say that many more are missing but police complaints have not been registered properly since so many are still in hiding. This number was given by the OC of Nandigram P.S.
[7] Interview with villagers at Adhikari Pada on November 29, 2007.
[8] Interview with Alok Raj, DIG of CRPF, at Khejuri, November 29, 2007.