A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the house of Hamida Begum, an alleged CPM member, at Chowringhee Bazaar. Eight muskets, six pistols, 250 rounds of ammunition, 50 of which are cartridges and used in SLRs.

A huge police force has been deployed in the area to prevent any fresh skirmish between CPM and Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) supporters.

“We had received a complaint from Abu Taher, a BUPC leader. We raided Hamida Begum’s house and discovered arms and ammunition. Later, she was arrested. We don’t know which party she owes allegiance to,” said Superintendent of Police (East Midnapore) Ashok Prasad.

Prosenjit Banerjee, Officer-in-Charge of Nandigram police station, however, said: “After interrogating Hamida, we think she is a CPM supporter, if not a member. The raid was conducted between 12 pm and 4 pm.”

The CPM, on the other hand, blamed the incident on the Trinamool Congress. “Hamida may have been our supporter. I don’t know. It’s a conspiracy of the Trinamool Congress. She could have been framed,” said Ashok Bera, Nandigram CPM Zonal Committee member.

The Trinamool Congress, however, said the incident has proved that CPM was trying to foment trouble in the area.