The simmering tension in Nandigram flared up this morning following the murder of a CPM worker.

Four motor cycle-borne persons pumped two bullets into Niranjan Mondal (58), a teacher, at Kendamarichar, when he was returning from school around 4 pm on Wednesday.

The CPM, which blames Trinamool-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) for the murder, has called for a 24-hour bandh in Nandigram and Khejuri on Thursday.

The BUPC, demanding a probe into the case, has called a 12-hour bandh.

SS Panda, Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore, said the body has been recovered and sent for postmortem.

Asoke Bera, CPM district committee member of East Midnapore, said Mondal had been the secretary of the party committee at Rajaramchawk.

On part of the TMC, Abu Taher, saha-sabhapati of Nandigram Panchayat Samiti, said his partymen were not involved in the murder. The CRPF should be deployed again in Nandigram, he said.

The area has been under considerable tension following an alleged assault on villagers by security forces on Tuesday night.

Ten persons — one of them a physically-challenged man — were roughed up by inebriated jawans of the Eastern Frontier Rifles at Rajaramchak High School, where a camp had been set up to oversee the law and order situation.

In the morning, BUPC supporters held a demonstration in front of the Nandigram police station. They had even dug up the road at Hazrakata, which was repaired in the evening.

Another local CPM leader, Joydev Barik, was shot at in Sonachura the same night.