January 7, 2014
Trinamool observes Netai Dibas, Martyrs` column unveiled in Nandigram
Trinamool Congress paid tribute to the 9 martyrs of the Netai massacre through different programmes. Trinamool Yubo Congress President and Tamluk MP Suvendu Adhikary was present at Netai on the occasion. On January 7, 2011, nine villagers, including three women, were killed in indiscriminate firing CPI(M) goons at Netai in Paschim Medinipur. Even the then Governor of the State Mr M K Narayanan had expressed his horror after the inhuman massacre.
Incidentally, a Shahid Minar (Martyrs` column) has come up in Nandigram to honour the deceased crusaders of the movement in Nandigram. The martyrs` column, measuring 130 feet, would stand as a symbol of sacrifice and help the coming generations learn about the movement.
The martyrs` column was unveiled by Radharani Ari, a local who was a fellow crusader during the Nandigram movement.
The names of all 14 crusaders, who laid down their lives on March 14, 2007, would be engraved on the column. The date for unveiling the column has been set for January 7, because on this day in 2007, three local Trinamool Congress supporters were murdered in cold blood by alleged armed CPI(M) harmads. The names of all crusaders who made the ultimate sacrifice during the movement would be engraved on the structure.
The martyrs` column has been built on the lines of a similar structure that came up in honour of the dead in the Netai carnage.
At a similar event in neighbouring Bhangabera, which had been the epicentre of the Nandigram movement, 130 feet column would be unveiled. The crusaders aligned to the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), an umbrella outfit to fight against forced acquisition of land, had mobilized a campaign against the setting up of a chemical hub and a special economic zone in the area.
