The violence left eight injured though unofficial estimates put the figure at 18.

Nandigram has been on the boil since Sunday as it awaits the arrival of Chief Minister Buddhadeb

Bhattacharjee tomorrow to distribute pattas to landless farmers.

Inspector General (Westersn Range) Rakesh Gupta admitted violence continues in Nandigram.

“But the situation is under control,” he said. Police contingents were sent to tension-hit villages after BUPC supporters started digging up a road to prevent CPM cadres from crossing into BUPC-dominated areas. No arrests have been made so far.

According to police, CPM cadres fired and threw bombs at a BUPC rally near Chowringhee Bazar in Nandigram on Monday morning.

The rally was taken out in protest against the attack on BUPC supporters at Satengabari yesterday. Police said four received bullet injuries and have been rushed to the SSKM Hospital. The rest are being treated in the Nandigram block hospital.

BUPC leader Sheikh Sufiyan alleged that armed CPM cadres, led by Mohammed Mijanoor, attacked their rally without any provocation. He said party cadres fled the spot once the BUPC retaliated. The news soon spread to other villages, including Satengabari, where the BUPC beat up CPM men. Three party men have been injured.

On Monday afternoon, BUPC supporters demonstrated before the Nandigram police station alleging inaction.

A complaint was lodged against some of the cadres involved in the attack at Chowringhee Bazar.

BUPC leaders have also threatened to disrupt normal life in Nandigram if the police fails to arrest those involved in Monday’s firing.

In protest, a portion of the Nandigram-Shyamsundarchowk Road near Kendamari was also dug up.

The party’s Midnapore (East) district committee member Ashoke Bera dismissed allegations that party supporters had taken the lead in the violence.

He said, “Armed BUPC supporters beat up traders at Chowringhee Bazar for keeping shops open. The attack triggered a retaliation from locals.”