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Tension erupted once again at Nandigram following a charred body of a child found near Bhangabera Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Police sources said the body was recovered while the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) members were digging up the land near Shankar Samanta's house near Bhangabera Bridge. On January 7 Shankar was burnt alive allegedly by the members of BUPC.

"Today we took out a procession demanding punishment of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for the police firing on March 14. During the rally some of our members decided to dig the land adjoining Bhangabera Bridge with a hope that we may find the bodies of those killed in the police firing," Nishikanta Mondol, a strong supporter of BUPC said.

A large number of women and children participated in the procession from Garchakraberia to Bhangabera Bridge. They were holding placards mentioning mukhya mantrir sasthi chayee (We want strict action against chief minister).
A section of villagers started digging up a large area and recovered the body. On the other side of the bridge, a police contingent was seen monitoring the situation.

Following the incident BUPC members became agitated and raised slogans against the policemen for killing innocent villagers. Later the body was taken to the Nandigram police station. "The body is beyond recognisation but one thing is clear that it's a male body. The body has been sent for post mortem examination at Nandigram hospital," a senior police officer said.

Superintendent of police, East Midnapur, G Srinivas said, "It's too early to comment on the matter."

Meanwhile, on Saturday Dr Buddhadeb Dandapath of Nandigram Sub-Divisional Hospital lodged a complaint against Trinamool Congress leaders Sheikh Sufian and Abu Taher at Nandigram police station. In his complain Dandapath mentioned that for the last few days the two leaders are threatening him to prepare the medical reports as per their instruction.

"They also threatened me with dire consequences," Dandapath told the local police officers.

The local police officers assured Dandapath that action will be taken if someone was found guilty. As a precautionary measure a police picket has been deployed in front of the Nandigram hospital.

When Taher and Sufian were contacted, they said, "The allegation made by Dandapath is false and baseless. Let the police investigate the matter, then everything will be clear."

Email author: sujit.nath@hindustantimes.com