Thaindian News

Kolkata, June 21 (IANS) Alleging that the Eastern Coalfields Limited was forcibly evicting the backward class and tribals in West Bengal’s Burdwan district for the Sonepur Bazari project, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday demanded that the authorities stop acquisition of land by force immediately.

In a statement, CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose said that party legislator from Pandabeshwar, Goruanga Chatterjee was seriously injured when he was hit by police in his chest and abdomen.

“Today (Tuesaday) the ECL authorities tried to evict scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward classes from their land and homes for the Sonpur Bazari project. The high officials of ECL refused to heed to the request from the protesting locals for solving the matter through talks and asked the police and the Central Industrial Security Force to go for a baton charge,” Bose said.

“The local MLA Goruanga Chatterjee and Asansol MP Bangshagopal Chowdhury were injured. Chatterjee sustained chest and abdominal injuries. His condition is causing concern,” he said.

He claimed several others have been hospitalised in a serious condition while the police arrested some of the protesters.

“CPI-M state committee strongly condemns the dastardly incident and demands strong action against the ECL authorities, the organsiation’s officials and the guilty policemen. We also demand the forcible acquisition of land by the ECL,” the statement said.