Violence erupted again in Nandigram today as four CPI(M) party offices were set on fire by the Save Land Committee. State home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray told the media that a group of armed people had gone to “kidnap” some members of the opposing groups at Tekhali Bazar, when the police intervened and rescued the victims. G A Srinivas, SP (East Midnapore), however, said a CPI(M) office was set on fire and several shops were ransacked at Tekhali Bazar— one of trouble spots on March 14 —by members of the Trinamool-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, which had organised a peace rally in the area. Rumours that bombs were thrown by CPI(M) cadres at the rallyists had angered them, said BUPC core committee member Abdus Samad.In Kolkata, IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said a number of shops were also vandalised after an altercation between BUPC and CPI(M) supporters. Police had brought the situation under control. No one was injured, he said. A team of city intellectuals comprising actor Shaoli Mitra, singer Pallab Kirtania and others, meanwhile, visited Nandigram and assured the affected people of all help. “The Nandigram incident has shocked our conscience. We are with you in your struggle. We will try to stand by you in these difficult times,” Mitra told them.
