Nandigram violence executed with connivance of Left: NCM

In further embarrassment for the Left Front govt, the NCM said it has found ‘very serious incidents of molestation of women and rape of minor girls’ in Nandigram.

In further embarrassment for the Left Front government in West Bengal, the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) on Friday said it has found ‘very serious incidents of molestation of women and rape of minor girls’ in Nandigram.

NCM Chairperson Mohd Shafi Qureshi said a delegation of the Commission that visited trouble-torn Nandigram has reported that excesses were committed on farmers, most of them belonging to the minority community.

“There have been lapses on part of the state government. It seems all was pre-planned and executed with the connivance of the state government,” Qureshi said.

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He said the report presented by the NCM member Harcharan Singh Josh has spoken of very serious incidents of molestation of women and rape of minor girls and has suggested that these should be thoroughly investigated.

He replied in the affirmative when asked whether the report was a strong indictment of the government.

He said the report will be considered by the Commission and accordingly it would ask the Centre and the state government to take necessary steps.

Josh, during his visit to West Bengal on November 28, held meetings with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and other states leaders besides talking to the victims in Nandigram.

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Earlier this month, the Calcutta High Court had termed the March 14 police firing on protesters opposing acquisition of their land by the government in Nandigram as ‘wholly unconstitutional and unjustifiable’ and directed the administration to give a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each of the 14 victims.