The Hindu - Indian Newspapers in English Language from eight editions.

The Hindu - Indian Newspapers in English Language from eight editions.

TC, BUPC supporters lathicharged at Nandigram

Nandigram (PTI): In yet another incidence of violence ahead of Sunday's Panchayat polls, some Trinamool Congress and BUPC supporters were lathicharged by the Rapid Action Force as they tried to prevent a truck with material for elections from moving out of the BDO's office.

The TMC and Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee workers had stopped the truck on the ground that they would be unable to vote as they had been driven out of their villages, the police said.

Justifying the lathicharge, the office-in-charge of Nandigram Debasish Chakraborty said "police have done their duty." A journalist was also injured in RAF action, he said.

The truck carrying the election material moved out after the supporters were dispersed.

The CRPF, meanwhile, searched the house of a CPI(M) supporter Panchanan Jana at Kakaberia after initially being denied permission by the police. However, nothing was found. A BUPC supporter was on Friday admitted to a hospital after he was allegedly beaten up by suspected CPI(M) activists, sources in organisation had said.

On his part, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had played down the renewed violence at Nandigram while assuring the people on Friday of a "peaceful" panchayat election.