Nandigram: LF must bear responsibility,says NHRC

Press Trust of India Posted: Feb 10, 2008 at 0042 hrs
New Delhi, February 9 In a severe indictment of the Left Front regime in West Bengal for “failing” to prevent the violence in Nandigram, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said the state government should bear the responsibility for the loss of life and property following the attack.

“Since the state government does not appear to have discharged its primary obligation in preventing the attack by CPM cadres, it should bear the responsibility for the loss of life and property following the attack,” the NHRC said in its report on the incident. A three-member team, headed by Chairperson S Rajendra Babu, has filed the report.

The report highlighted the gravity of the incident, noting that NHRC visited the area in “very difficult circumstances and when the situation was tense”.

“Communication with the local people was also difficult, who were still under the trauma of riots and violence,” said the report.

The NHRC observed that while local police gradually started losing control over the law and order situation in the area, the villagers were instigated by political parties to fight against the government policy.