New Delhi: Senior officers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) today claimed that the entire trouble-torn area of Nandigram in West Bengal is under their control.

"The whole area of Nandigram is in our grip now. We have got access to all pockets in the area. CRPF personnel have a presence in the sensitive areas of the two blocks," Director General of CRPF S I S Ahmed said today. The Left-front Government, which has been at the receiving end over its handling of the situation in Nandigram, today received support from the CRPF chief for the area fast returning to normal.

Brushing aside reports about not receiving cooperation from the state government, Ahmed said the para-military force personnel were deployed in phases in every part of the violence-affected area. The comments from the CRPF chief came on a day when the force complained over release of influential and wanted CPM cadre workers in Nandigram, who were arrested by it. A situation report sent to the Union Home Ministry also highlighted that the para-military force had sought permission of the state government to set up two camps in Chokopuri and Barakpura areas, permission for which was still awaited.

According to Ahmed, who is an IPS officer of West Bengal cadre and has served in Midnapore district, the situation in Nandigram was "under control" and the state government had not asked for more force. The CRPF chief was talking on the sidelines of the All India Police Games being held at Jharodakalan on the outskirts of the city. As many as 28 police and paramilitary teams from various parts of the country are participating in the five-day games.

Source : PTI