For the first time since January 17, when violence at Bhangar in West Bengal killed two people and forced police to flee in the face of public wrath, a massive police contingent marched into the area with helmets, jackets, lathis and teargas. "A war zone," is what CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty called it. "Police were there to smash peasants' protest at Bhangar." State's police chief SK Purakayasta disagreed. "The government won't do anything the people of Bhangar don't want. They were misled. Now normalcy is returning," said Mr Purakayasta.