VIOLENCE IN WEST BENGAL'S NANDIGRAM VILLAGES CONTINUES IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000323 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC SOCI IN SUBJECT: VIOLENCE IN WEST BENGAL'S NANDIGRAM VILLAGES CONTINUES IN RUN-UP TO 2008 LOCAL ELECTIONS REF: KOLKATA 0088 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Over the past five days, sporadic violence has occurred in the Nandigram area of West Bengal's East Midnapore district. Supporters of both the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) have engaged in attacks, including an attack on opposition leader and Trinamul Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee's convoy when she visited Nandigram. Banerjee has called for a strike on October 31 to protest the alleged attack. The violence is part of a political turf battle between the CPM and the opposition in the run-up to panchayat (local village) elections scheduled in 2008. A total of 38 people have died in Nandigram since January 3 and that number is expected to grow before the elections are held. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Nandigram area in West Bengal's East Midnapore district remains a volatile, political flashpoint, following fresh violence since October 25 between the Trinamool Congress-backed BUPC and CPM supporters. The BUPC was formed to oppose the government's plans for establishing a chemical hub in Nandigram and the organization continues to remain active, although the GOWB called off its chemical hub plan in the face of violent protests. ¶3. (SBU) On October 27, one BUPC supporter was killed and another injured during an exchange of gunfire between BUPC and CPM cadres. CPM district committee chief for East Midnapore Asoke Guria said that the BUPC forced CPM party supporters, who had been living in camps since January, to leave Nandigram. He added that the violence would stop if BUPC supporters allowed the displaced to return to their homes. Local opposition Trinamool Congress legislator Subhendu Adhikary countered that around 100 CPM enforcers tried to enter Nandigram and hurled crude bombs, but that the villagers resisted the attack and forced the group to retreat. Adhikary claimed that CPM MP Laxman Seth planned the attack in a bid to reestablish his influence in the area and to exert his authority. ¶4. (SBU) On October 28, four suspected CPM workers were killed in a bomb explosion. The same day, the convoy carrying opposition leader and Trinamul Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee, who was on a visit to Nandigram, allegedly came under fire though it unclear who was responsible. Later, BUPC supporters set the CPM's zonal committee office in Nandigram on fire. To prevent movement of the police, BUPC supporters also attacked the Nandigram police station, prevented the police from leaving, and blocked the road at Haripur area so that police vehicles could not pass. A bridge was also damaged and the road was dug up to cut off communication. ¶5. (SBU) While difficult to verify conflicting allegations, the BUPC alleges that the four CPM supporters were killed while they were making crude bombs. Alternatively, the CPM says BUPC supporters hurled the bombs at them from a relief camp. Mamata Banerjee alleges that CPM supporters in Khejuri - where the ousted CPM supporters live in relief camps -- fired at her car and that she has informed the GOI's Union Home Ministry about the incident. The police report they have registered a case related to the attack on Banerjee, but that it remains unclear as to who actually fired at Banerjee's car. The CPM called for a 12-hour bandh (strike) at Khejuri on October 29. ¶6. (SBU) According to local CPM MP Laxman Seth, at least 1,500 CPM supporters who were forced out of Nandigram live in the Khejuri relief camps while 1,000 more are staying with relatives. He claims the BUPC is terrorizing these people in order to capture "political" land in the area. Seth told Post that he has asked the GOWB to ensure protection for the people and that he is still awaiting a response. ¶7. (SBU) Mamata Banerjee has called for a statewide general strike on October 31 to protest the recent violence and the alleged attack on her convoy. In addition, the BUPC demands that the Nandigram Block I of land be excluded from the purview of the Haldia Development Authority, a body headed by CPM MP Seth. The BUPC also wants cases against BUPC activists withdrawn and punishment for those involved in the March 14 killings. They also want the CPM to stop attacks from Khejuri and compensation for all of their supporters who have been killed since January. KOLKATA 00000323 002 OF 002 ¶8. (SBU) Comment: A total of 38 people have died in Nandigram since January 3. The current violence appears to be a turf war between the CPM and the opposition, and is part of the run-up to panchayat polls scheduled in 2008. Also, with the CPM's ongoing branch and local committee conferences (which will lead to the party congress in 2008),this latest Nandigram violence is the result of a desperate attempt by Seth to capture territory and prove to his own party that he is still in control. Although the government announced on October 24 compensatory payments to families of the 14 villagers killed by police on March 14 in Nandigram, the gesture has had little effect. Even some CPM district leaders and workers are unhappy that the government has failed to restore peace and to punish those policemen responsible for the March 14 killings. As the elections draw near, more violence and political agitation can be expected. JARDINE