Death toll from India land protest rises to 14

INDIA: A total of 14 villagers died after police opened fire on protesters against the planned building of an industrial zone in eastern India, police said Thursday, raising an earlier toll.

Wednesday’s unrest was the latest in a wave of nationwide protests, mainly by poor villagers, against the government’s compulsory purchasing of farmland for proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The zones, privately-run enclaves with world-class infrastructure and tax breaks, are seen as central to India’s drive to boost economic growth and lure foreign investment.

“The death toll from Wednesday’s clashes in Nandigram has risen with three more people succumbing to their bullet injuries at the hospital,” said R.J. Kanojia, inspector general of police in India’s West Bengal state.

“The death toll now stands at 14,” he told AFP. Senior West Bengal police official Anup Bhusan Vora said police had fired “in self defence” when they were attacked by more than 5,000 villagers armed with pipe guns, sharp weapons and explosives.

“Police fired tear gas shells, then rubber bullets and finally live cartridges,” Vora said.

Kolkata, Thursday, AFP