CRPF personnel vacate Nandigram

The last two companies of Central Reserve Police Force, deployed at the height of violence in trouble-torn Nandigram, have been withdrawn.

One CRPF company comprising 125 personnel had left Nandigram on Friday and the other comprising as many personnel had withdrawn from the area the following day, East Midnapore superintendent of police, Satya Shankar Panda said .

Five companies of the CRPF were deployed in Nandigram's  Sitananda College since November 12 last year after Communist Party of India-Marxist cadres allegedly recaptured villages in Nandigram where violence had broken out since January after the government's proposal seeking land for setting up a chemical hub.

Seven persons had died on January seven, last year after which Nandigram became a 'free zone' with the police unable to enter.

On March 14 that year when the police tried to enter, they were resisted by the villagers which led to police firing killing 14 persons.

The five companies were mandated to stay for six months till February 12, but their stay was extended till the Panchayat elections in early May when clashes broke out.

Three companies were pulled out of the area after the local polls which the Trinamool Congress won in a landslide victory.