After show of force, CPM brokers truce in wary Nandigram

“The government agreed to most of the demands placed by the BPUC paving the way for an understanding,” said Chief Secretary Amit Kiron Deb. “We hope to restore peace in the area after this,” he added, flanked by the Director General of Police and Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray.

There were differing interpretations of the agreement in official circles. One section said the “steps from the government are being synchronized in a manner so that the CPM is able to retain its regained control over Nandigram.”

The other view called it a “tactical retreat” by the BUPC to ensure that it regains Nandigram Block I — the core area which saw the maximum opposition to the CPM — and that the government’s plans of a chemical SEZ remained intact. The BPUC, officials said, would be happy to have Nandigram I, while the CPM is allowed to “rule” in Nandigram II block.

One highlight of the meeting between the district administration and the BUPC was that the protesters agreed to allow the police to set up camps inside Nandigram villages, a move they have been opposing since January.

Another significant climbdown was a categorical assurance by BPUC leaders. including Subhendu Adhikari, the Trinamool leader spearheading the movement, that they would neither shelter nor align with “Maoist elements” in their ranks. Should the police detect any Maoist in Nandigram, it would be “absolutely free” to take whatever action necessary.

For the BPUC, the concessions came in the form of compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the victims of police firing on March 14. Chief Secretary Deb said the issue of compensation to the injured was not under consideration.

He, however, added that the government had agreed to review all criminal cases registered during the violent agitation. The government would also withdraw cases against those who might have been falsely implicated in such cases.

Asked if there was any proposal for arms surrender by both sides as a large number of firearms had entered the area, Deb said that as of now, there was no such plan.

In Nandigram, meanwhile, there were no violent incidents today but tension was evident. For the BUPC, the truce is welcome. It’s straining under the burden of looking after the estimated 10,000 villagers who have taken shelter in relief camps. As for the BUPC leadership, there is a sense of loss.

“The way the CPM is creating terror, it is not possible for us to resist any more,” said Sisir Adhikari, another TMC legislator in the BUPC. Moreover, most villagers simply want to return to their homes and get back to their lives — and even take help from the CPM if it came to that.

As Abdul Qayyum Khan of Daudpur village, who is living in a relief camp here, put it: “My neighbour Rani Manna has already contacted some CPM leaders and taken their help to go back to their home.” Srikanta Das, 35, from Sitalkundo, was more blunt. “When the TMC asked us to join their movement, we did so. Now the CPM is back in control. We don’t understand the twists and turns of politics. All I know is that I have to go back to my home and I’ll support the CPM if needed.”

The agreement

•Rs 2 lakh to each of those killed in the March 14 police action

•Officers found guilty of excesses to be shunted out and action taken against them

•Police camps can be set up in villages

•Work on damaged roads, bridges, culverts to begin

•Review of criminal cases against political workers

•All those ousted from homes and farmstead to get safe passage back