Nanoor massacre

2021-01-30T17:41:37Z

103.52.247.206: /* Massacre */

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
'''Nanoor massacre''' refers to the [[massacre]] of eleven landless labourers allegedly by [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] activists in Suchpur, near [[Nanoor]] and under Nanoor police station, in [[Birbhum district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]], on {{start date and age|2000|7|27}}.<ref name="Statesman1">{{cite web | url=http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=35824&usrsess=1 | title=CPM brings terror charge against Trinamul | publisher=THE STATESMAN LTD. | work=The Statesman | date=23 April 2003 | access-date=2007-09-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430031704/http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=35824&usrsess=1 | archive-date=30 April 2008 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Statesman2">{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=111965&catid=38&year=2005&month=5&day=20&Itemid=66 | title = Editorial: Attack in Nanoor | access-date = 2010-10-14 | work = Editorial | publisher = The Statesman, 20 May 2005}}</ref><ref name= "Statesman3">{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=41235&catid=35&year=2003&month=4&day=18&Itemid=66 | title = CPM ticket for Nanoor massacre accused | access-date = 2010-10-10 | publisher = The Statesman, 18 April 2003}}</ref>

==Background==
Nanoor is located in the south-eastern corner of the district which is an alluvial plain between [[Ajay River]] and [[Mayurakshi River]]. It has hot and dry summers, spread over March – May, followed by the monsoon from June to September. 78 per cent of the rainfall occurs during this period.<ref>Choudhuri, Tapan, ''Unnayaner Alokey Birbhum'', ''Paschim Banga '', Birbhum Special Issue, February 2006, {{in lang|bn}}, pp. 60-61, Information & Cultural Department, Government of West Bengal.</ref>

Per historical records there have been at least 13 intensive droughts between the years 1799 and 1855. The drought of 1836-37 was particularly severe.<ref name = "Gupta">Gupta, Dr. Ranjan Kumar, ''The Economic Life of a Bengal District: Birbhum 1770 – 1857'', p. 114, The University of Burdwan, 1984.</ref> Floods also wreak havoc. Some 7,000 mud houses either collapsed or remained in bad shape in Nanoor and three other blocks, affecting around 15,000 villagers in 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=89935&catid=42&year=2004&month=9&day=25&Itemid=66 | title = Floods render 15,000 homeless | access-date = 2010-10-10 | publisher = The Statesman, 25 September 2004}}</ref>

Nanoor Block covering 24 villages, is economically backward. It has many artisan families who live below the poverty line. A large section of the population is either [[Muslim]] or belong to the [[Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes|Scheduled Castes and Tribes]]. Although the population is talented they hardly had an opportunity to earn a decent living.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://amrif.blogspot.com/2007/04/institute-of-international-social.html | title = Institute of International Social Development (IISD) | access-date = 2007-08-24 | work = Success Story | publisher = Election Commission of India }}</ref>

Nanoor was described by ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' in 2003 as "the most politically disturbed area in Birbhum district".<ref name="Statesman1"/> With acute poverty it has been a disturbed area for ages.

==Massacre==
{{quote box|width=100px|quote='''Victims of Nanoor massacre'''<ref>Times of India, Kolkata edition, 11 November 2010</ref> Seikh Nizam Rasul Bax Sabur Seikh Seikh Salamat Harai Seikh Saran Mete Safikul Seikh Seikh Safiq Asraf Seikh Saifur Seikh Seikh Ali Hossain}}

Immediately after the Nanoor massacre, the CPI(M) had tried to confuse the public by initially referring to those killed as dacoits and so on. However, when a spate of reports appeared in the press they were forced to admit that they were indeed landless agricultural wage workers, who were killed because of a land dispute.<ref name= "Statesman3"/> [[Somnath Chatterjee]], then member of the [[Lok Sabha]], in whose parliamentary constituency Nanoor fell, described those killed as "hired goons, [[Dacoity|dacoits]] and dreaded anti-socials".<ref name= "Statesman2"/> The CPI(M) had earlier been trying to analyse what happened in Nanoor as a fight between farmers and landlords desperate to recapture land they had lost earlier but they late changed course.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/22midna.htm | title = Did CPI-M's land reforms movement backfire? | access-date = 2008-01-13 | last = Jawaid| first = Rifait | publisher = rediff.com}}</ref> [[Anil Biswas (politician)|Anil Biswas]] and [[Biman Bose]], both politburo members and senior leaders of CPI(M), condemned the Nanoor killings and also the violence caused by political rivalry resulting in deaths earlier in the area.<ref name= "Hindu">{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/07/30/stories/0230000l.htm | title = Landless in W. Bengal tilting towards Trinamool Congress | access-date = 2007-09-14 | publisher = The Hindu, 30 July 2000 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101114022821/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/07/30/stories/0230000l.htm | archive-date = 14 November 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote, "On a long term, the killings, symbolizing the birth of a new theater of violence after Keshpur in district Midnapore - where deaths and maiming in political clashes have become a bizarre routine - constitute an extremely disturbing augury for the society in Bengal".<ref name= "Hindu"/> The West Bengal Chief Minister, [[Jyoti Basu]], said that at least 800 [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] party workers, mostly belonging to the CPI(M) had been killed in clashes with the supporters of the Trinamool-BJP combine. He felt that everybody, including Left party workers had the right of self-defence, but appealed to them to restrain themselves even in the face of atrocities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/09/01/stories/0201000d.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103162020/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/09/01/stories/0201000d.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-01-03 | title = Basu asks Left parties to be tolerant | access-date = 2007-09-14 | publisher = The Hindu, 1 September 2000 }}</ref>

==Aftermath==
Abdul Khalek, the prime witness to the Nanoor killings, and his guard, Jahangir Alam, were injured in an attack allegedly by CPI(M) activists, on 12 May 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=111249&catid=35&year=2005&month=5&day=13&Itemid=66 | title = CPM goons attack Nanoor witness | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 13 May 2005}}</ref> Four people were arrested for the attack, the next day. Although local people thought of the arrested as having links with the ruling party, police were yet to ascertain their political connections.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=111482&catid=72&year=2005&month=5&day=14&Itemid=66| title = 4 held for Nanoor witness attack | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 14 May 2005}}</ref>

''The Statesman'' in an editorial wrote, "The sole purpose in attacking the prime witness in the gruesome Nanoor massacre of July 2000 in which 11 [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamul Congress]] supporters were slaughtered by armed CPI(M) cadres was to shield those responsible and abort their trial, by hook or by crook. The irony is that although five years have elapsed since the occurrence of the horrendous killings by the Marxists, the trial of their 79 accused comrades had not begun". In 2005, ''The Statesman'' in an editorial said, "Repeated postponement of hearing (at least seven in the last two years) because of failure of the accused to turn up in court has made the outcome uncertain."<ref name= "Statesman2"/>

Just before start of the Nannor massacre trials in 2005 CPI(M) cadre were allegedly creating panic in the area threatening the witnesses repeatedly.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=105063&catid=72&year=2005&month=3&day=5&Itemid=66 | title = Pre-trial terror reigns in Nanoor | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 5 March 2005}}</ref> A Trinamul Congress delegation visiting the villages to is reported that though there were a few police camps, the villages in the area were still in the grip of CPI(M) men.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=93942&catid=72&year=2004&month=11&day=6&Itemid=66 | title = Clashes persist in Nanoor | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 6 November 2004}}</ref>

Two main accused in the Nanoor massacre, Nitya Chatterjee and Manirujjaman, filed nominations as CPI(M) candidates for the panchayat polls in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=41333&catid=35&year=2003&month=4&day=18&Itemid=66 | title = CPM ticket for Nanoor massacre accused | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 18 April 2003}}</ref>

In 2004, the [[West Bengal Government]] was reprimanded by [[Kolkata High Court]] for slow progress in the Nanoor massacre trial.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=196532&catid=38&year=2007&month=7&day=18&Itemid=66 | title = Targeting the CBI | access-date = 2010-10-11 | work = Editorial | publisher = The Statesman, 18 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040117/asp/bengal/story_2796767.asp | title = Court rap for Nanoor delay | access-date = 2007-09-14 | publisher = The Telegraph, 17 January 2004}}</ref>

==Political equations==
Nanoor was traditionally considered one of the strongest bastions of CPI(M) in Birbhum district. However, the Nanoor massacres brought about a considerable change in the scenario. The Trinamul Congress started building on the unfortunate and has developed a base in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=42387&catid=72&year=2003&month=4&day=23&Itemid=66 | title = CPM brings terror charge against Trinamul | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 23 April 2003}}</ref> The changing scenario has been rather noticeable. In 2003, the CPI(M) charged Trinamul Congress with terrorising voters in the area, and demanded fresh polling in a majority of the booths in the Thupsara panchayat area in Nanoor block.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=45179&catid=36&year=2003&month=5&day=12&Itemid=66 | title = Somnath visits Nanoor, party wants repoll | access-date = 2007-09-14 | publisher = The Statesman, 12 May 2003}}</ref>

The Nanoor area has continued to be turbulent, with political clashes and murders continuing.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=340691:trinamul-man-shot-5-injured-in-nanoor-bomb-explosions&catid=42:bengal&from_page=search | title = Trinamul man shot; 5 injured in Nanoor bomb explosions | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 7 September 2010 }}</ref> There are certain villages in the area which are known as Trinamool Congress strongholds and CPI(M) has been trying to capture such villages.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=341027:a-game-of-one-upmanship-in-nanoor&catid=72:bengal-plus&from_page=search| title = A game of one-upmanship in Nanoor | access-date = 2010-10-11 | publisher = The Statesman, 10 September 2010}}</ref> On the basis of a FIR (first information report) lodged with the police against CPI(M) men, the police made arrests and in August 2001 the police submitted charge sheets against 82 accused. The trial started in 2000 and continued for eight years. During the trial 10 accused persons have died. The police has not been able to arrest five of the accused. Thirty-two witnesses have appeared in court. The court verdict is expected in November 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=342534:court-to-give-verdict-on-suchpur-massacre-&catid=73:kolkata-plus&from_page=search | title=Court to give verdict on Suchpur massacre | publisher=THE STATESMAN LTD. | work=The Statesman | date=23 September 2010 | access-date=7 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606203259/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=342534:court-to-give-verdict-on-suchpur-massacre-&catid=73:kolkata-plus&from_page=search | archive-date=6 June 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Verdict on Nanoor ==
The session court delivered verdict on Nanoor Massacre case in 2010, when 44 persons were convicted and sentenced to Life Imprisonment. Out of the 44, four were CPI(M) members.<ref name="thetelegraph20040116">{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040117/asp/bengal/story_2796767.asp | title=Court rap for Nanoor delay | publisher=ABP Pvt. Limited | work=The Telegraph | date=16 January 2004 | access-date=7 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032839/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040117/asp/bengal/story_2796767.asp | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thetelegraph20101111">{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101112/jsp/bengal/story_13166803.jsp | title=CPM 44 given life term in Nanoor killing | publisher=ABP Pvt. Limited | work=The Telegraph | date=11 November 2010 | access-date=7 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095904/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101112/jsp/bengal/story_13166803.jsp | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of massacres in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|West Bengal}}

{{Birbhum topics}}{{Massacres}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanoor Massacre}}

[[Category:20th-century mass murder in India]]
[[Category:2000 in India]]
[[Category:Massacres in 2000]]
[[Category:Attacks in 2000]]
[[Category:Massacres in India]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in India]]
[[Category:2000s in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Birbhum district]]
[[Category:Crime in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2000]]

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