The villagers had slit the veins in his legs, said Debashish Chakraborty, Officer-in-Charge, Nandigram.

PK Chetri, the Commandant of CRPF, said Mallick was taken to the Nandigram police station with serious injury. A country-made revolver and a dagger were seized from him, which were handed over to the Nandigram police. Mallick succumbed to his injuries while he was being rushed to the Tamluk hospital.

Following the murder, the Nandigram police initiated a peace talk with leaders of CPM and TMC.

The police decided to visit every gram panchayat alongwith the Block Development Officer, Nandigram, and urge villagers not to resort to violence.

Debasish Chakraborty, Officer-in-Charge, Nandigram, said the peace process will start this evening. Shantiram Garai, BDO Nandigram, however, said he was not aware of any such decision by the police.

In another development, Nandigram police held a meeting today with local leaders of various political parties, urging them not to indulge in any further violence.

The local leaders of all political parties will be present in separate meetings to be held from time to time in villages, said Chakraborty. The leaders were requested not to incite villagers to attack their opponents.

Abu Taher, local TMC leader, said they demand restoration of peace in Nandigram now.

“Police had tried to protect the CPM cadres and supporters for the last one-and-a-half years. After the declaration of results, the police are trying to prove that they are a neutral force,” Taher said.