Farmers, communists clash in eastern India, 6 hurt

INDIA: Farmers who fear authorities want to seize their land and build factories clashed with government supporters in eastern India, the latest incident in months of unrest that some fear could scare off potential investors, police said.

The two sides exchanged gunfire and lobbed crude bombs at each other but no injuries were reported in Nandigram, an area in West Bengal state where farmers have stoutly resisted efforts by authorities to force land sales at cheap rates so an industrial zone can be set up.

The plan for the industrial zone, which was to include a shipyard and a petrochemical plant, was officially abandoned in March after 14 people were killed in battles with police.

The top police official in Nandigram, G. Srinivasan, said officers separated the farms and communists and brought the situation under control before anyone was injured.

Calcutta, Monday, AP