Burnt bodies recovered from Nandigram ‘graves’

Police on Thursday recovered half-burnt human bodies, wrapped in thick paper...

Police on Thursday recovered half-burnt human bodies, wrapped in thick paper, from the five “graves” in Khejuri that a CRPF team stumbled upon while patrolling the area on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) termed the finding of the human remains as “normal”.

Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore, S S Panda, confirmed that human bones had been recovered. “These have been sent to a forensic laboratory. Police have already started a suo motu investigation,” he said.

The bodies were exhumed in the afternoon after obtaining permission from the judicial magistrate of Contai sub-division. CBI joint director Arun Kumar was also present when the bones were exhumed.

Both the CPI(M) and the Bhoomi Uchched Protirodh Committee (BUPC) claimed the bodies were of their supporters. The CPI(M) said the remains belonged to some people who had been killed in a mine explosion planted by Maoists on October 28. But the BUPC claimed that the bodies could be those of some of their supporters who have been missing since CPI(M) cadres launched their operation to recapture the villages.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) Central Committee member Shayamal Chakraborty said that recovery of human bones from the area was not a abnormal affair. He said the bodies may be of those killed in a recent bomb attack by the BUPC.