The gunfire came from Maheshpur and adjoining areas, which the CPI(M) had failed to recapture from the Farmland Eviction Resistance Committee (FERC).
Clashes during the past few days have killed 15 and injured 28, official reports said here on Friday.
Although CPI(M) chief Jyoti Basu praised the return of peace in Nandigram earlier, and said no immediate all party meeting will be held, many people are criticising him for not acting on time to end the crisis.
Director responds
In what can be said a humiliation to Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacherjee, well-known film director Aparna Sen refused to associate herself with the Kolkata Film Festival scheduled for November 10 here.
“I’ve always been proud of this film festival ,but I fail to see how the government can celebrate when people are suffering and dying in Nandigram.”
“If I participate after what the government has been doing, it’ll be simply inhuman,” said Mrs Sen.
Many TV and theatre professionals have also decided to boycott the festival.
‘Right to differ’
But Basu said people have the right to differ and express their opinion in a democracy irrespective of their political ideology.
He also said many CPI(M) supporters have become homeless in clashes with Farmland Eviction Resistance Committee activists.
“Even some FERC people have also fled homes. The focus should first be on bringing all of them back home,” he said.
Activists harassed
Earlier, Social activist Medha Patkar’s convoy was attacked and the media prevented from entering Nandigram by armed CPI(M) supporters.
“They are talking of peace, restoration of democracy, paying compensation to victims, but they are also showing brute force to prevent Medha Patkar and the media from seeing what’s going on inside Nandigram in the name of restoring peace,” said artist Subhaprassanya.
In another development, Jamiat-e Ulema-e Hind general secretary Siddiqulla Chowdhury was arrested along with 30 others on their way to Nandigram.
They were arrested at Kolaghat, about 70 km from here, when they tried to force their way towards Nandigram, breaking the police barricade.
