State Terror: Government sponsored brutal mass killings at Nadigram

THE INCIDENT: 14 innocent ordinary people, mostly women and children were brutally murdered and hundreds injured by the police and CPI(M) party (the ruling communist party of West Bengal state) cadres at Nandigram on March 14, for forceful land acquisition  by the government. The incident has become one of the darkest events of Indian history.

Many faces of the ‘Terrorist’?

The advice to drivers is; ‘drive slow, to avoid unpleasant incidents’. Buddhadev Bhattacharya, the communist Chief Minister of West Bengal, leading the CPI(M) party, that came to power by the support of the poor people of West Bengal  in his mad hunger for ‘industrialization’ forgot that advice and acted no short of Hitler in carrying out his process of land acquisition for industrialization.

On March 14 2007, he (being the Police Minister of the state as well) sent a huge battalion of police fully armed, to Nandigram, that he had eyed to acquire for the Salem Group. The police opened fire mercilessly on the villagers who had gathered. Women and children who were in the front received the maximum bullets and lathicharge. Officially 14 died in the firing and hundreds were injured.

This shocked the nation into silence. This incident, which took away the lives of several innocent, ordinary women and children, reminds us of the way Lebanese children are killed by Jewish bombs (you are warned that the link contains pictures that may deeply bother you and set your tears rolling).

While the Governor went to Nandigram to see the situatiuon (so did many other national leaders) and personally meet the suffering people, no leader of CPI(M), neither the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya went to Nandigram to meet the injured and suffering people. Why? Is it out of guilt?

An unanimous protest, never seen before

For the first time in history, the state of West Bengal saw what is called an unanimous protest by people of all faith and political color. Even CPI(M) supporters and intellectuals showed their hearty protest by quitting various state-given posts, returing various state-level awards like Rabindra Puraskar, Bankim Puroskar, and Vidyasagar Puroskar. The CPI(M) party allies like CPI, Forward Block, and RSP feel that this incident has copmpletely washed the 30 years’ reputation of the Left Front government of West Bengal.

Disturbing images of state-sponsored Nandigram killings

The CBI probe report has highlighted facts, like:

1. The police opened fire on the villagers without any attack on them.
2. CPI(M) supporters were with the police during the firing and mass killing. They helped the police by firing at the innocent villagers. Sharp instruments were also used. Children were ripped from the legs and thrown into the water. Ten CPI(M) supporters were arrested by the CBI team and arms and ammunition recovered that did not belong to the police.
3. Women of the village were raped by the police (Bengali Statesman puts the figure at 19) during the massacre.

State terror at Nandigram, carried out by the communist Government

What the Humanists’ Association demands

1. We do not believe in ‘discussions’ and saying ‘sorry’. That cannot be the punishment of the people responsible for this darkest incident of history, since that way many criminals can say ‘sorry’ and get away after committing a crime. We demand an immediate arrest and punishment of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Buddhadev Bhattacharya according to the existing law, as he has already admitted being responsible for the incident of Nandigram genocide.
2. We demand an immediate arrest of the policemen and party cadres involved, and a quick punishment to set an example before all, since the CBI probe report has established beyond doubt that the policemen were not attacked before the incident.

Voice your protest

If you agree to our demands, please protest this incident that is only comparable to the Jalianwalabag Massacre (click to know more about Jalianwalabag Massacre); send your demands to the Prime Minister’s Office (click here), and also to the Governor of West Bengal (click here). Write your comments below this article. It does not matter which party you support; people of all faith and ideology have unanimously protested the Nandigram killings. Let the human inside you speak before the supporter.

A Nandigram victim (pic 1) at a local health-center, and A woman (pic 2) seen at her hideout with her child in fear of the state terror

The mail sent to the Governor of West Bengal by Humanists’ Association, after the incident

Gopal Krishna Gandhi, honorable Governor of West Bengal, and the grandson of the legendary Mahatma Gandhi, opened his mouth against the government in protest of the brutal mass-killings

To  The Honorable Governor of West Bengal
Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi

From Humanists’ Association
[Regd. Office: P 2 Block B Lake Town, Kolkata 700089]

Dear Sir,
With reference to the barbaric incident of mass killing at
Nandigram on March 14, 2007, we express our deep concern. We are proud of
you and thank you for your immediate reaction and clear comments on the
matter.

We would be grateful if you could visit Nandigram as the
Governor/ the head of Red Cross to assess the situation and find out the
exact number of

1. people killed in the massacre
2. women raped or gang raped on 14.03.07.
3. people missing since the massacre.

We the undersigned assure you of our cooperation and
promise to accompany you to Nandigram any time. Our members and we are ready
to extend any kind of help in this grim situation. Please contact us at the
phone numbers given below for fastest communication.

We thank you once again.
Yours sincerely

PRABIR GHOSH SUMITRA PADMANABHAN
[ Working President                                 [General Secretary
Humanists’ Association                         Humanists’ Association
Mobile: 93301 21900]                             Mobile: 9330123900]

Police (pic 1)  and CPI(M) cadres (pic 2) carried out the mass killings in a joint action, suggest CBI probe

Picture courtesy: various media & Anindyasundar

 Please link to this page

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Related posts:

1. The voice of HUMANISTS’ ASSOCIATION on the NANDIGRAM issue
2. Beneath sari, brutal scars
3. Mass Detention of Over 5500 FARMERS in Ahmedabad – Feb 25th 2010