Nandigram violence: Wanted CPI-M strongman arrested in Mumbai

In a joint operation, the Criminal Investigation Department and Mumbai police on Saturday arrested absconding former Communist Party of India – Marxist Member of Parliament Lakshman Seth and two others, who were chargesheeted in the 2007 Nandigram violence case in which seven people were killed, from a lodge at Chembur in Mumbai.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Kurla, ordered transit remand as sought by the CID till March 22 on production of Seth, besides former CPI-M Member of Legislative Assembly Ashok Guria and CPI-M district committee member Amiya Sahu, who absconded for 47 days after they were chargesheeted by a Haldia court.

Deputy Inspector General, CID, West Bengal, K Jayraman, said in Kolkata that the CID was probing, on the order of the Calcutta high court, four cases against them into seven persons going missing in Nandigram in 2007.

The CID will produce them in a Haldia court in East Midnapore district by March 22, Jayraman said.

A Haldia court had on February 27 issued a non-bailable warrant against Seth, whose name figured in the chargesheet filed by the CID against 87 people for their alleged involvement in the death of six persons and disappearance of seven others during the Nandigram movement in 2007.

CID brought charges under the Arms Act, criminal conspiracy, forgery and cheating against the three.

Seth was absconding ever since the CID filed the chargesheet on January 30, 2012 before the Haldia sub-divisional court, naming the former MP and party heavyweight in the area, and 87 other local CPI-M leaders of Nandigram and adjoining Khejuri blocks.

They were accused of abduction and murder during an attack on a peace rally by Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee on November 10, 2007.

The BUPC, an anti-land acquisition body, had launched a movement in January, 2007 against land acquisition in Nandigram by the previous Left Front government for setting up a chemical hub and SEZ, forcing former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to shelve the project.

The Nandigram movement was considered a turning point in West Bengal politics in favour of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.