Edgy Bengal police detain Kalinga Nagar activists

The West Bengal police today detained a 45-member team from Orissa's Kalinga Nagar, where several tribals protesting against land acquisition for industry were killed in police firing in January 2006.

The group was detained at Kharagpur in East Midnapore district on the suspicion of having Maoist links, the police said. The team was on its way to Nandigram, where the police had, on March 14, fired at those protesting against land acquisition for the Salim group's proposed SEZ.

"The members of the team are being questioned. We had information that they were supposed to visit Nandigram," Inspector General (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said. However, no one has been arrested so far. "If we are satisfied after interrogation, we will release them," he said.

According to information from Orissa, the team was headed by Rabindra Jarika, the general secretary of a tribal anti-displacement organisation, Visthapan Virodhi Janmanch.

Sources said the delegation was headed for Nandigram to express solidarity with the families of those killed in the police firing on March 14. Nandigram was still tense and their presence might precipitate situation, officials said.

The detention led to tension in the tribal-dominated villages in the industrial complex area of Kalinga nagar. After an emergency meeting of the Janmanch at the outfit's headquarters, Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch President Chakradhar Haiburu (senior) said, "We condemn the detention of our activists. Nandigram tribals had come here to show solidarity with us after the killing of 13 tribals in a similar incident here. We pledge our support to them."

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court today adjourned the hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI's) report on the Nandigram firing for over three weeks and rejected a plea for continuation of the CBI inquiry for the present.

The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice SS Nijjar and Justice PC Ghose, provided two weeks to the state government to file affidavits.

Meanwhile, the state government has begun an administrative inquiry into the firing.