New Delhi: After days of simmering violence and pitched gunbattles, an uneasy calm prevailed in battleground Nandigram on Tuesday as CRPF forces kept vigil in the strife-torn region.
CRPF was moved into Nandigram on Monday after days of violence and resistance by CPM workers and after the CPM cadres took complete control of the ground.
Home Secretary T Prasad Ranjan Ray said no Maoists could be identified in Nandigram so far.
The clarification comes a day after CPM general secretary Prakash Karat alleged Trinamool Congress workers were in cohorts with armed Maoist groups to pursue mischievous plans to keep Nandigram on the boil.
Meanwhile, three dead bodies found in Khejuri area in East Midnapore district. According to sources, the bodies were those of the villagers
According to Ray, there are still 500 people in Nandigram relief camps and CRPF will soon set up 10 camps in Khejuri and Nandigram and in the other vulnerable areas to accommodate those unsettled.
And even as the ruling CPI-M painted Nandigram red after their weeklong operation that "cleansed" the area of rival groups, police admitted that there was an undercurrent of tension despite the seeming ambience of peace.
"Nandigram is quiet now. There is no fear at the moment and no incident was reported from anywhere, but I cannot deny that there is an undercurrent of tension too," East Midnapore Superintendent of Police S S Panda was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
"We ensure your protection," he said, assuring there would be free movement of journalists who were barred from entering Nandigram in East Midnapore district, about 150 km from here, for days as the CPI-M invaded the area from their bases in adjoining Khejuri.
Senior BJP leaders including L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj also reached Nandigram to take stock of the situation. After a one-day bandh on Monday, the Opposition withdrew the strike call for Tuesday in view of the Chhat Puja.
In a strongly-worded condemnation, Advani said the West Bengal government had “nuked” the farmers of Nandigram. Advani is on his way from Kolkata to Nandigram. (With inputs from agencies)
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