Kolkata:
At least 8 people were shot dead in Netai village in Lalgarh and another 15 injured in what's being seen as the latest political clash between the CPM and the Trinamool.
The Trinamool called it a genocide and blamed armed CPM squads but the state Home Secretary called it a political clash .
News of the Lalgarh deaths completely dominated a procession in Kolkata by Trinamool workers who were carrying the bodies of three party workers killed earlier in political clashes in Burdwan.
In Delhi, the Union Home minister P Chidambaram shot off another letter to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
"I drew his attention to this very grave incident and requested him to kindly reschedule his appointments and visit Delhi as soon as possible," said P Chidambaram.
(Read: Chidambaram writes to Buddhadeb)In Kolkata, sources confirmed the receipt of the Home Minister's letter but said Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had not seen the letter as he had left office before its arrival.
The Trinamool in Kolkata marched through the city with bodies of 3 party workers allegedly killed in political clashes. But soon news from Largarh took over completely. "They have shot 5 people dead in Lalgarh again. Harmad has stopped us from entering Lalgarh," Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee said.
"Lalgarh massacre is like a genocide. It is unbelievable how the Harmad, the armed Harmads and the CPI(M ) activists have so brutally killed the villagers," said Sudip Bandopadhyay, Trinamool MP.
From Lalgarh's Netai village, there are conflicting reports. One version is, CPM workers opened fire on villagers who surrounded the house where armed CPM cadre were staying. Locals claimed the CPM was pressurizing them to give food, join the party and stand guard at night.
"They want us to go for the training. We revolted against it and this is what has happened. They told us if we do not go for training, then they will kill us. The camps belong to Harmads," said an angry villager.
Another version is, a Trinamool procession was passing by the house where CPM workers were staying. A shot was fired from the procession and CPM workers fired back.
The administration is not confirming either version, simply calling it a political clash.
Late evening, the CPM issued a statement blaming Trinamool and Maoists.
"Since last night, Trinamool and Maoist elements were trying to attack uprooted CPM supporters who had returned to Netai village. This morning, when they attacked villagers, the villagers fought back. The attack was led by Trinamool and Maoist elements."
The governor MK Narayanan called it 'Bengal's day of shame' and urged the state government to take action. "For our State it is a day of sorrow and shame. No State can accept such mindless discord. This has gone on for far too long. It is incumbent upon the authorities to begin to act decisively to preempt, prevent or quell attempts at violence, irrespective of the affiliations of the groups involved. A decisive stage has been reached for the Government to act, before it becomes a point of no return." Narayanan said in a statement issued by Raj Bhawan.
(Read: West Bengal Governor hurt by Lalgarh violence)
As the blame game continues, several people injured in the incident in Lalgarh were being brought to hospitals in Kolkata.