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'Nandigram a CPM-police carnage'

'Nandigram a CPM-police carnage'

Author: Ajanta Chakraborty
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 21, 2007
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1785684.cms

Introduction: Cops tell TOI two senior IPS officers planned massacre with local party lawmaker

How does it feel to be party to a mass-murder masterminded by politicians? Or - precisely - to be branded as "killers-in-uniform" by just about everyone, including one's own family?

The questions weren't actually posed to three policemen TOI spoke to. For, these men in khaki who had participated in what they described as the "party-police combine carnage" on March 14, have been going through a lot of self-questioning ever since their return from battlefield Nandigram.

"It feels terrible looking at those TV footage - knowing that we were involved in the bloodbath," one of the cops said as he recounted the "joint operation" by the police and local CPM. "Four heads had got together and schemed Operation Nandigram. They had outlined how the police would begin dispersing the crowd first and how the hired criminals would take over after that," claimed one of the three cops TOI spoke to.

The "core team" comprised a CPM MP, a Zilla parishad leader and two senior IPS officials. "The IPS officers took their orders from the two CPM leaders. We learnt about the game-plan later, but we hadn't the slightest clue about it on the morning of March 14," claimed another policeman.

The 2,000-odd heavily-armed policemen who had assembled from forces like the State Armed Police, Eastern Frontier Rifles, India Reserve Battalion from South Bengal, North Bengal and Western zones were, in fact, sketchily briefed (for barely 30 minutes) about Operation Nandigram. "Very casually we were told to move into Adhikaripara-Tekhali and Bhangaberia.

"As soon the crowd spotted us, missiles started flying from all directions. Stones were pelted from all sides and bombs hurled from treetops," said another policeman. "We retreated for a while and then tried to control the crowd with rubber bullets and teargas. Nothing worked, so we started firing," said the cop.

"As men, women and children ran for their lives, they were grabbed by CPM's hired goondas, a few kilometers from the firing spot. Some men and women were killed instantly. "We also have information about women being raped. The goons (in groups of six to eight) were hiding at strategic points so that they could overpower the fleeing men and women," said one of the three cops.

He recounted in horror: "The women cried for help, but no one came forward. Their menfolk retaliated, killing some of the criminals who were later to be projected as missing CPM men." All the three cops corroborated that "IG (western range) Arun Gupta verbally ordered the firing. Yet, after the carnage, he started shouting: 'Who gave you the authority to fire?' The constables told him 'the IG did', not knowing that they were actually talking to the IG himself."

And where was the other senior IPS official? "As the gunshots were heard, he decamped with his 150-strong force and took shelter inside Khejuri thana. He was aware of the entire gameplan-that criminals would be hired to attack the mob with knives and rifles. The CBI should tap his phone to know that he was constantly in touch with the local MP, taking minute-by-minute instructions from him."

The local police were in the know, as well. "Soon after the firing, the officer-in-charge, Nandigram thana, Sekhar Roy, shouted triumphantly, '0ooof ... Mount Everest-e chorlum (We've have reached the peak of Mt Everest.)"

"The local policemen and the senior officials have no credibility in the area simply because they are identified as the local MP's cadres. The people of Nandigram and Haldia can't relate to them."


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