Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the MASUM, a local human rights organization in West Bengal, India, regarding the brutal attack by armed activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] against Nandigram villagers since 6 November 2007. According to the official government account, at least 3 persons were killed and 14 others were injured during the incident. The AHRC is gravely concerned that such killings occurred with the West Bengal government’s deliberate inaction to intervene into the incident. It is reported that the police virtually did nothing when the villagers were beaten and attacked by the CPI-M cadres. Now the CPI-M activists have taken control over Nandkgram Block I & II, where no one, including journalists, are allowed access. So far, the West Bengal government has not taken any serious action to intervene into this matter. The Nandigram villagers have been fighting for the right to their land since January 3 and at least 14 persons were killed by police firing on them on March 14 (See further: UP-039-2007, UA-083-2007, UP-038-2007, AS-051-2007 and AHRC-PL-012-2007). The AHRC calls for your immediate and strong intervention into this matter. Please demand the West Bengal state government, as well as the central government, take immediate action to remove the outside CPI-M activists from the Nandigram area, arrest those responsible and provide urgent medical and other humanitarian assistance to the affected villagers. Please also demand an independent judicial inquiry into this incident and also ask the National Human Rights Commission of India to inquire this matter as well.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Since 3 January 2007, local farmers in Nandigram have organized protests in West Bengal against the government’s proposed acquisition of land for a chemical plant in Nandigram. The Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Commttee (BUPC), the organization of the local villagers, has been leading this movement. Subsequently, on 14 March 2007, at least 14 people were killed and several dozens were injured by the police firing on them, when police forces together with the CPI-M men tried to forcibly enter the area.
On 7 November 2007 the West Bengal government recently announced they would award a compensation amount of 200,000 Rupees (USD 5,070) to each of the families of those killed, yet no effective judicial remedies has been provided to the victims to date. Due to strong nation-wide and international protest after the massacre, the state government withdrew its plan of acquiring the land. However, there has been sporadic violence from time to time that prevents the re-establishment of peace in Nandigram since then.
Detailed information of the attack:
In order to gain control of areas in Nandigram blocks, on 6 November 2007, the CPI-M thugs launched an organized armed attack against the BUPC activists and villagers from Tekhali Bridge, situated on the southern side of Nandigram Block No. I. The Tekhali Bridge connects Nandigram and Khejuri, two violence-torn regions in East Midnapore district. While Nandigram is virtually ruled by the BUPC, Khejuri is dominated by the CPI-M and is home to about 1,500 party supporters. Under the virulent attacks by the CPI-M thugs, it established its hold on the entire block of Nandigram Block II with its armed forces.
With deliberate inaction by the police and the state government administration, the Nandigram areas turned into a “free war zone” without any trace of law enforcing agency. The CPI-M activists grabbed Simulkund, Satengabari, Janbari, Maheshpur Bazar villages in the said block area. It is reported that the CPI-M activists opened indiscriminate firing from automatic rifles, torched the houses of the BUPC supporters, ransacked and looted the houses. Eyewitnesses claim that the police at the nearest outpost did not act to stop the violence and left the spot in a hurry. Local media reports that nearly 2,000 villagers are still away from their villages, after three days of violence that resulted in a fresh exodus. They took shelter in different camps nearby.
According to the official government version, three persons were killed and 14 were injured during the incident. The persons killed are Rabin Das, Tushar Sahoo and Nirapada Ghata. However, the death toll of the incident will increase as more dead bodies are being recovered.
Despite the graveness of the incident, instead of taking immediate intervention to stop the violence, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Budhadev Bhattacharya asked for the deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Nandigram for restoration of law and order there.
With deliberate inaction and connivance with police and administration, the CPI-M cadres blocked all roads to Nandigram, preventing anyone including fact-finding mission teams from human rights groups and journalists from entering the area. Ignoring widespread protests, the CPI-M activists sealed off Nandigram, blocking all entry points and even stopping trucks carrying CRPF personnel to the violence-hit area.
For example, towards the journey to Nandigram, Ms. Medha Patekar, a reputed social activist along with her companions, was stopped by the party cadres on November 7 and was manhandled by them. Although one police pilot car was present there at that time, the policemen did not intervene. Even the press were reportedly attacked by the party supporters in the presence of the police. Also, when the Secretary of Jamaet-e-Ulema Hind, Mr. Siddiqulla Chowdhury proceeded to Nandigram with prior information to the police, the police failed to clear a road for him to Nandigram. The police instead arrested him and other leaders and dropped them off at Kolaghat for their return to Kolkata.
On November 9, in his statement, the Governor of West Bengal, Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, expressed his extreme displeasure over the incident and specifically asked the administration to remove the new unauthorized manmade blocks at entry points (To see the full text of the Governer’s statement, click: The Governor’s Statement). The Governor’s statement has received huge support from the civil society. Even Mr. Kshiti Goswami, the Minister-in-Charge of Public Works Department of the West Bengal government, openly criticized the government and inaction of the police. However, Mr. Biman Bose, the Secretary of the state ruling CPI-M, strongly criticized the Governor’s comment. From November 12, an indefinite general strike has been called which was supported by almost all the opposition parties in West Bengal.
The situation in Nandigram is one of grave concern. The CPI-M men reportedly resorted to sporadic firing in areas like Sonachura, Garchakraberia and Samtabad, although no casualties were reported. On November 10, the CPI-M activists allegedly fired on a peaceful procession of BUPC which officially resulted in the killing of 3 persons and injuring more than twenty. There is an unconfirmed report that about 50 persons were killed and their bodies were carried to unknown places to hide the actual death toll.
Among the dead persons is Shyamali Manna, killed by CPI (M) thugs. One wounded victim Mr. Tapash Khatua was brought to the Kolkata hospital and is now being treated at SSKM hospital. He lodged a complaint to the police. The injured victims were Ashish Pandit, Goutam Pal, Yadav Maity, Akreja Bibi and were admitted to Tamluk Hospital in a critical condition. Mr. Sanat Pramanik was referred to Kolkata Hospital as his condition became serious.
Two villagers Mr. Tapan Kumar Khatura (Mr. Tapash Khatua’s brother) and Mr. Sankar Pramanik asked the MASUM to submit their complaints to the Nandigram police station on behalf of them, as all the roads to outside were blocked. Their brothers are fighting for their lives after being shot by the CPI-M men. For details, please see the full text of the typed complaints with pictures: Mr. Tapan Kumar Khatura’s Complaint and Mr. Sankar Pramanik’s Complaint.
Incidents of rape were also reported. Moni Shaw was reportedly admitted in Tamluk Mahakuma Hospital after being raped by the CPI-M thugs. Another woman Anwara of Satengabari village was also reportedly raped.
There are also allegations that the CPI-M hired professional killers for the attack against the villagers. Two criminals Tapan Ghosh and Sukur Ali, who were charged by CBI for mass killings at Chhoto Angaria village on 4 January 2001, were reportedly arrested at Egra by the police. Initially, they were suspected by the villagers and their vehicle was stopped. Both men were carrying bodies that were full of gunshot wounds from Nandigram in the vehicle at the time of their arrest. It is suspected that they were attempting to conceal the bodies to reduce the actual death toll.
On November 10, thousands of helpless villagers sat in front of Nandigram police station calling for shelter and the establishment of peace in their villages. Although it was a peaceful gathering, the police allegedly beat the villagers with police batons, which resulted in many people being injured. Currently, the affected villagers are suffering from a shortage of food and inadequate medical assistance. Many of the villagers are women, children and elderly persons.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Since 3 January 2007, local farmers in Nandigram organized protests in West Bengal after a notification was issued by authorities at the neighbouring Haldia port, identifying their land as a site to be acquired for the new chemical production project. This notification was then withdrawn by the West Bengal government which stated it would “exercise caution” while going ahead with the project.
The project reportedly requires at least 4,000 hectares of land to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which would be jointly developed as a chemical hub by the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation and the Indonesia-based Salim group of companies.
Subsequently, on 14 March 2007, police fired against farmers protesting against a proposed acquisition of land for a chemical plant in Nandigram, East Midnapore district, West Bengal, when the villagers resisted entry of cops in the region. It is reported that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] cadres were also engaged in this massacre. CPI-M is the ruling party in West Bengal state.
At least 14 persons were confirmed to be killed, while several hundreds were allegedly injured during the incident but the actual death toll is expected to be much higher. The MASUM reported that at least 50 persons are killed in the incident and that the police and the local political party activists associated with the CPI-M were engaged in destroying the evidence at the site to play down the incident. There are also unconfirmed reports that the actual death toll is around 300 and that the police and the CPI-M activists together were involved in murdering people.
Please also see previous urgent appeals and statements on Nandigram issue
UP-039-2007: INDIA: List of several missing and injured persons of the Nandigram massacre
UA-083-2007: INDIA: 11 villagers killed and more than 50 persons injured when police fired at villagers protesting against proposed land acquisition in Nandigram
UP-038-2007: INDIA: Please urge the National Human Rights Commission of India to immediately send its fact-finding team to inquire about Nandigram massacre
AS-051-2007: INDIA: Nandigram, the latest outcome of a failing justice system
AHRC-PL-012-2007: INDIA: AHRC calls for international protest over massacre, questions Indian “democracy”
Because of huge national and international protests after the Nandigram massacre, the West Bengal government withdrew its plan to establish a SEZ in the area. However, the CPI-M activists again attacked villagers led by the BUPC using sophisticated weapons.
The West Bengal state government plans to set up at least six other major industrial projects, including SEZs in the state, necessitating the acquisition of at least 10,000 hectares of land. The policy of acquiring land for such industrial projects has sparked protests from local communities fearing land displacement and threats to their sustainable livelihood.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities below urging them to conduct thorough investigation by way of an independent body with the cooperation of the central government and punish the government officials who neglected this violence. Please also demand them to provide special care to the villagers and take immediate steps to study and prevent similar incident in the future.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
INDIA: CPI-M cadres’ blunt attack resumed against villagers in Nandigram with inaction and connivance of the West Bengal state government
I am writing to you to draw your immediate attention to the recent brutal attack and killings of villagers in Nandigram, East Midnapore district, West Bengal, India, by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists since 6 November 2007.
The incident occurred when CPI-M thugs launched an organized armed attack against BUPC activists and villagers from Tekhali Bridge, situated at the southern side of Nandigram Block No I & II, in order to gain control over the Nandigram area on November 6. It is reported that the CPI-M activists took over Simulkund, Satengabari, Janbari, Maheshpur Bazar villages in this block. It is reported that the CPI-M activists fired upon the villagers from automatic rifles, torched the houses of the BUPC supporters, ransacked and looted the houses. Local media reports that nearly 2,000 villagers are still away from their villages, after the three days of violence resulted in a fresh exodus. They took shelter in different camps nearby. Under the virulent attacks by the CPI-M thugs, it established its hold on the entire block of Nandigram Block II with its armed forces.
According to the official government version, at least 3 persons were killed and 14 others were injured during the incident. The persons killed are Rabin Das, Tushar Sahoo and Nirapada Ghata. However, the death toll of the incident will increase as more dead bodies are being recovered.
I am also informed that on November 10, the CPI-M activists again allegedly fired on a peaceful procession of BUPC which officially resulted in the killing of 3 persons and injuring more than twenty. There are unconfirmed reports that about 50 persons were killed and their bodies were carried to unknown places to hide the actual number of death toll. Amongst the dead, a woman named Shyamali Manna died after being killed by CPI (M) thugs. One wounded victim Mr. Tapash Khatua was brought to the Kolkata hospital and is now being treated at SSKM hospital. The injured victims including Ashish Pandit, Goutam Pal, Yadav Maity, Akreja Bibi were admitted to Tamluk Hospital with gun shot wounds and are in critical condition. Mr. Sanat Pramanik was referred to Kolkata Hospital as his condition became serious.
I am also informed that there have been incidents of rape in the Nandigram area. Moni Shaw was reportedly admitted to Tamluk Mahakuma Hospital after being raped by the CPI-M thugs. Another woman named Anwara of Satengabari village was also reportedly raped.
I am particularly annoyed by the information that the attacks were continued with deliberate inaction by the police and the state government administration. Eyewitnesses claim that the police at the nearest outpost did not act to stop the violence and left the spot in a hurry.
In deliberate inaction and connivance with police and administration, the CPI-M cadres blocked all roads to Nandigram preventing anyone including fact-finding mission teams from the human rights groups and journalists from entering the area. For example, towards the journey to Nandigram, Ms. Medha Patekar, a reputed social activist, was stopped by the party cadres on November 7 and was manhandled by them. Although one police pilot car was present there at that time, the policemen did not intervene. Even the press were reportedly attacked by the party supporters in presence of the police. Under these circumstances, nobody knows what is actually taking place in the Nandigram area now. Currently, the affected villagers are suffering from a shortage of food and inadequate medical assistance. Many of the villagers are women, children and elderly persons.
I want to remind you that at least 14 villagers in Nandigram area were killed by police fire on 14 March 2007, when they were protesting for their right to land. It is unfortunate to see that other killingd occurred in the Nandigram area and people have to suffer continuous violence and threats. It should be also noted that although the state government recently announced compensation to those killed during the March incident, the victims have not yet received any effective judicial redress.
In light of above, I strongly demand that you take immediate action to ensure that:
1. The new unauthorized manmade blocks at entry points to Nandigram area should be immediately removed so that humanitarian assistance, fact-finding mission teams as well as journalists can access the area to find the truth and provide assistance to the affected villagers;
2. The CPI-M activists holding the Nandigram area should be immediately removed from the area and those responsible for the killings and attacks should be arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible;
3. An independent judicial inquiry should immediately be established to look into this incident. Also, the CBI from the central government should take charge of the investigation into this incident to ensure its accountability;
4. The government authorities should take immediate action to reveal the actual casualties during the incidents, the current condition of the villagers, and to collect evidence of the incident;
5. Urgent medical and other humanitarian aid should be provided to the affected villagers in need;
6. The National Human Rights Commission of India should also launch its own inquiry into this incident;
7. All the inquiry reports about the incident should be made in public as soon as they are finalized, and;
8. Strong disciplinary and legal action should be taken against the police officers of the outpost nearby the Nandigram as well as other responsible government officials for their complete negligence of their duty to stop the violence.
I look for your urgent intervention into this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi, 110 011
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 2301 2312
Fax: +91 11 2301 9545 / +91 11 2301 6857
E-mail: pmosb@pmo.nic.in
2. Hon’ble Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi, 110001,
INDIA
Fax : +91 11 2338 4863
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
3. Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi
Governor
State of West Bengal
Raj Bhaban
Kolkata – 700 001
Fax: +91 33 2200 2444
Email: govsec@wb.nic.in
4. Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Chief Minister/ Minister of Home Department
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Buildings
Kolkata – 700 001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 5480 / 2214 1341
Email: cm@wb.gov.in or prsecycm@wb.nic.in
5. Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
The Chief Justice of India
Supreme Court of India
1 Tilak Marg, New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2338 3792
Email: supremecourt@nic.in
6. Mr. M. Hamid Ansari
Vice-President’s House
6, Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi – 110 011
Tel: +91 11 2301 6422 / 23016344
E-mail: vpindia@nic.in
7. Mr. Amit Kiran Deb
Chief Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata – 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 4328
E-mail: cs@wb.nic.in
8. Mr. Prasad Ranjan Roy
Home Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata – 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 22143001
E-mail: sechome@wb.gov.in
9. Mr. Miloon Kothari
Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
Room 4-066/010
UNOG-OHCHR
CH-1211, Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9265
Fax: +41 22 917 9010 (ATTENTION: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ADEQUATE HOUSING)
10. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Room 3-016
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXECUTIONS)
11. Mr. Jean Ziegler
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
Room 4-066, C/o OHCHR
CH-1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel.: +41 22 917 9300
Fax: +41 22 917 9010
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
