The second major inter-agency coordination meet on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pak-agree-to-build-kartarpur-corridor-imran-khan-to-break-ground-on-november-28-178837">Kartapur Corridor</a> took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs with authorities saying India was hopeful of sending a draft of the plan to Pakistan within a month.&nbsp;

Tuesday's meet was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, and the BSF Director General RK Misra.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said, "All concerned GOI stakeholders and Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria attended the meeting. We discussed on aspects of the agreement that we want to finalise with Pakistan. We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month."

He also confirmed that the land acquisition process has started.&nbsp;

"Land acquisition work is in progress. This involves four stages, we are in the second stage as of now. We are hopeful that in a month and a half we will complete this process," Singh said

Top sources told WION that land acquisition for a highway and an integrated checkpost (ICP) was discussed at Tuesday's meeting. On Wednesday, February 6, India will issue a notification to acquire land for the ICP with a detailed plan for it is being finalised within the next few days.

A preliminary notification for land acquisition for the highway has already been issued.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) will be constructing the highway and the ICP, with the Punjab government assuring the availability of land for them by mid-march.

The first meet on the corridor took place on January 15.&nbsp;

India shared coordinates of the corridor's Zero Point (crossing point) along the International Border with Pakistan on November 22. New Delhi has also invited a Pakistani delegation to India to discuss and finalise the modalities of the corridor and suggested two sets of dates — February 12 and March 7, 2019.&nbsp;

Pakistan has not yet responded.&nbsp;

The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, lived for 18 years in Pakistan's Kartarpur gurudwara.

India approved the building of the Kartarpur Corridor last year so that pilgrims can easily visit the gurudwara to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year. Pakistan later announced that it would also build, on its side of the border, a corridor from the Kartarpur gurudwara to the international border.&nbsp;

India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Indian side of the border on November 26, 2018 while Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

The second major inter-agency coordination meet on the Kartapur Corridor took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs with authorities saying India was hopeful of sending a draft of the plan to Pakistan within a month.

The second major inter-agency coordination meet on the Kartapur Corridor took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs with authorities saying India was hopeful of sending a draft of the plan to Pakistan within a month. Tuesday's meet was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, and the BSF Director General RK Misra. Briefing the media after the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said, "All concerned GOI stakeholders and Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria attended the meeting. We discussed on aspects of the agreement that we want to finalise with Pakistan. We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month." He also confirmed that the land acquisition process has started. "Land acquisition work is in progress. This involves four stages, we are in the second stage as of now. We are hopeful that in a month and a half we will complete this process," Singh said Top sources told WION that land acquisition for a highway and an integrated checkpost (ICP) was discussed at Tuesday's meeting. On Wednesday, February 6, India will issue a notification to acquire land for the ICP with a detailed plan for it is being finalised within the next few days. A preliminary notification for land acquisition for the highway has already been issued. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) will be constructing the highway and the ICP, with the Punjab government assuring the availability of land for them by mid-march. The first meet on the corridor took place on January 15. India shared coordinates of the corridor's Zero Point (crossing point) along the International Border with Pakistan on November 22. New Delhi has also invited a Pakistani delegation to India to discuss and finalise the modalities of the corridor and suggested two sets of dates — February 12 and March 7, 2019. Pakistan has not yet responded. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, lived for 18 years in Pakistan's Kartarpur gurudwara. India approved the building of the Kartarpur Corridor last year so that pilgrims can easily visit the gurudwara to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year. Pakistan later announced that it would also build, on its side of the border, a corridor from the Kartarpur gurudwara to the international border. India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Indian side of the border on November 26, 2018 while Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

Kartarpur Corridor: Land acquisition underway, India to send draft plan to Pakistan in 1 month

A high-level meeting to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor took place in the Home Ministry on Tuesday with the key issues being land acquisition and pilgrims' access to the other side. A high-level meet between Indian and Pakistani officials is expected to take place very soon.&nbsp;

The meeting, which was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, was also attended by the Punjab chief secretary, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, DG BSF RK Mishra, and officials from the Road and Transport Ministry. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes.&nbsp;

Land acquisition for the corridor on the Indian side was was a key focus area, as was the road network on the Indian side. Bisaria informed the attendees about the progress on the Pakistani side of the corridor which he visited a week ago.

The Home Ministry is the nodal ministry for coordinating with the authorities concerned, including local governments while the Road, Transport and Highways Ministry is the nodal ministry for the building and development of the corridor on the Indian side.

How pilgrims can get across to the Pakistani side with the help of simple procedures was the other key area. The Issues raised during the meeting included biometric records, the online registration of pilgrims, and timings. Sources said it was suggested that the corridor be open only for six hours during the day. It was indicated that as of now, no consensus has been reached with Islamabad on the number of pilgrims to be allowed across a day.&nbsp;

Indo-Pak officials' meet on the anvil 
According to sources in Pakistan, India is likely to propose a formal meeting on the Kartarpur corridor to Pakistan soon. The meeting is expected to take place between the third week of January and the first week of February. The sources said Pakistan will accept the proposal and invite for the meeting, as and when proposed.

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, who visited Kartapar Sahib Gurudwara recently, had said "35% of work on the corridor on the Pakistani side has been completed." Qadri had added that work on the corridor on the Pakistani side will be completed before Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary.

Punjab CM writes to Centre on Kartarpur corridor 
Meanwhile, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the Kartarpur corridor and requested him to waive the mandatory condition that devotees will need passports to cross over. This, he said in the letter, will enable "khulle darshan deedar” of the gurudwara where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. He suggested to the Centre that any valid government document such as an Aadhar card be used for identification at the border. The issue of passport-free access was reiterated by the Punjab chief secretary during the meet on the Kartarpur corridor at the home ministry.

A high-level meeting to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor took place in the Home Ministry on Tuesday with the key issues being land acquisition and pilgrims' access to the other side.

A high-level meeting to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor took place in the Home Ministry on Tuesday with the key issues being land acquisition and pilgrims' access to the other side. A high-level meet between Indian and Pakistani officials is expected to take place very soon. The meeting, which was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, was also attended by the Punjab chief secretary, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, DG BSF RK Mishra, and officials from the Road and Transport Ministry. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes. Land acquisition for the corridor on the Indian side was was a key focus area, as was the road network on the Indian side. Bisaria informed the attendees about the progress on the Pakistani side of the corridor which he visited a week ago. The Home Ministry is the nodal ministry for coordinating with the authorities concerned, including local governments while the Road, Transport and Highways Ministry is the nodal ministry for the building and development of the corridor on the Indian side. How pilgrims can get across to the Pakistani side with the help of simple procedures was the other key area. The Issues raised during the meeting included biometric records, the online registration of pilgrims, and timings. Sources said it was suggested that the corridor be open only for six hours during the day. It was indicated that as of now, no consensus has been reached with Islamabad on the number of pilgrims to be allowed across a day. Indo-Pak officials' meet on the anvil According to sources in Pakistan, India is likely to propose a formal meeting on the Kartarpur corridor to Pakistan soon. The meeting is expected to take place between the third week of January and the first week of February. The sources said Pakistan will accept the proposal and invite for the meeting, as and when proposed. Pakistan's Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, who visited Kartapar Sahib Gurudwara recently, had said "35% of work on the corridor on the Pakistani side has been completed." Qadri had added that work on the corridor on the Pakistani side will be completed before Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. Punjab CM writes to Centre on Kartarpur corridor Meanwhile, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the Kartarpur corridor and requested him to waive the mandatory condition that devotees will need passports to cross over. This, he said in the letter, will enable "khulle darshan deedar” of the gurudwara where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. He suggested to the Centre that any valid government document such as an Aadhar card be used for identification at the border. The issue of passport-free access was reiterated by the Punjab chief secretary during the meet on the Kartarpur corridor at the home ministry.

Kartarpur corridor: Indian, Pakistani officials to meet soon as Pak says 35% work on its side of border complete

Almost 10 days after the anti-land grab movement that kick-started at Bhangor in Bengal&rsquo;s South 24 Parganas district, the area limped back to normalcy on Wednesday.

Most schools, colleges and doctor&rsquo;s clinics reopened and transport services resumed across the area on Wednesday (January 25).

Students were seen going to schools for the first time since the agitation began. All the roads that were cut&nbsp;off by the agitating villagers over the setting up of substation of Power Grid Corporation Limited also returned back to normalcy.

Buses were seen plying on the roads that remained deserted since January 16, following clashes that broke out between the villagers and police.

Villagers had been demanding the closure of the power grid project.

The protests&nbsp;were over the acquisition of 13 acres of farmers&#39; land in Bhangar by a the ruling Trinamool Congress party&nbsp;for a power project of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, an enterprise of the federal government.&nbsp;

Soon after the state government announced that the project will be scrapped and land will not be taken away from farmers forcibly, the agitation by the villagers was withdrawn. However, a section of villagers had been protesting and demanded that the state government have a dialogue with them.

A huge contingent of police force comprising&nbsp;the Combat Force, RAF and other officials of district police of South 24 Parganas have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order in the area.

On the other hand, West Bengal Police arrested the central committee leader of CPI(ML) Red Star, Sharmishtha Choudhury, for allegedly leading the agitation against setting up of the power grid.

According to sources close to West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has asked the security top brass to come down heavily on members of the groups, especially the CPI (ML) Red Star, that stirred the protests.

Since then, leaders of CPI(ML) Red Star, including Alik Chakraborty and Pradip Singh Thakur,&nbsp;have been under the scanner of the West Bengal Police.

(WION)

Protests had erupted in South 24 Parganas after the government allegedly tried to grab land to set up a power substation

Almost 10 days after the anti-land grab movement that kick-started at Bhangor in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, the area limped back to normalcy on Wednesday. Most schools, colleges and doctor’s clinics reopened and transport services resumed across the area on Wednesday (January 25). Students were seen going to schools for the first time since the agitation began. All the roads that were cut off by the agitating villagers over the setting up of substation of Power Grid Corporation Limited also returned back to normalcy. Buses were seen plying on the roads that remained deserted since January 16, following clashes that broke out between the villagers and police. Villagers had been demanding the closure of the power grid project. The protests were over the acquisition of 13 acres of farmers' land in Bhangar by a the ruling Trinamool Congress party for a power project of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, an enterprise of the federal government. Soon after the state government announced that the project will be scrapped and land will not be taken away from farmers forcibly, the agitation by the villagers was withdrawn. However, a section of villagers had been protesting and demanded that the state government have a dialogue with them. A huge contingent of police force comprising the Combat Force, RAF and other officials of district police of South 24 Parganas have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order in the area. On the other hand, West Bengal Police arrested the central committee leader of CPI(ML) Red Star, Sharmishtha Choudhury, for allegedly leading the agitation against setting up of the power grid. According to sources close to West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has asked the security top brass to come down heavily on members of the groups, especially the CPI (ML) Red Star, that stirred the protests. Since then, leaders of CPI(ML) Red Star, including Alik Chakraborty and Pradip Singh Thakur, have been under the scanner of the West Bengal Police. (WION)

Dust settles on anti-land grab agitation in India's West Bengal state

Communist Party of India (Marxist&ndash;Leninist) said on Monday that its general secretary, K N Ramachandran, was missing since Sunday afternoon from India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal.&nbsp;The party blamed chief minister Mamata Banerjee&#39;s &quot;notorious special police&quot; for his disappearance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The party has also written a letter to the president, informing him of the disappearance.

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Leaders of the leftist Communist Party of India (Marxist&ndash;Leninist) said that its general secretary, K N Ramachandran, went&nbsp;missing after he reached Howrah railway station around 5pm&nbsp;on Sunday. &quot;Comrade Ramachandran&nbsp;travelled from Lucknow to Howrah to declare solidarity with the people and the CPI (ML) Red Star comrades who are resisting imposition of a power grid by Mamata Banerjee&#39;s government at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal,&rdquo; CPI (Marxist&ndash;Leninist) said in a statement.&nbsp;

Leaders of his party claimed that he is being detained illegally since he was to meet the villagers of Bhangar in Bengal&rsquo;s South 24 Parganas district to lead an anti land-grab movement against the TMC government.

The CPI(ML) said several of its leaders have filed a complaint with the Kolkata Police who say that they are not aware of his whereabouts.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We suspect the involvement of Mamata&rsquo;s notorious special police in our comrade&#39;s disappearence. We demand the Mamata government to unconditionally produce comrade KN Ramachandran immediately. We appeal to the communists, progressive democratic forces and like-minded people for their whole hearted solidarity and support at this critical juncture,&rdquo; added the statement.&nbsp;

A land acquisition drive for a power project in Bhangar at the behest of a strongman of the TMC had culminated in violent clashes between protesting villagers and the police last week.&nbsp;TMC strongman, Arabul Islam, had reportedly acquired the land in 2013 for setting up a 440/220KV substation to transmit power between West Bengal and Purnea in the neighbouring state of Bihar.&nbsp;

Farmers and villagers led by Kalu Sheikh have been protesting ever since. Villagers say it will lead to the transmission of electricity through high-tension wires passing through the villages.&nbsp;The anti-land acquisition movement is reportedly being led by CPI(ML).&nbsp;Several leaders of the party, including Alik Chakraborty, Sharmistha Chowdhury and Pradip Singh Thakur, are under the scanner of the West Bengal police.

Ramachandran, who hails from Kerala, was scheduled visit Bhangar on Monday.

(WION) 
&nbsp;

The CPI(ML) blamed chief minister Mamata Banerjee's 'special police' for his disappearance

Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) said on Monday that its general secretary, K N Ramachandran, was missing since Sunday afternoon from India's eastern state of West Bengal. The party blamed chief minister Mamata Banerjee's "notorious special police" for his disappearance. The party has also written a letter to the president, informing him of the disappearance. Leaders of the leftist Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) said that its general secretary, K N Ramachandran, went missing after he reached Howrah railway station around 5pm on Sunday. "Comrade Ramachandran travelled from Lucknow to Howrah to declare solidarity with the people and the CPI (ML) Red Star comrades who are resisting imposition of a power grid by Mamata Banerjee's government at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal,” CPI (Marxist–Leninist) said in a statement. Leaders of his party claimed that he is being detained illegally since he was to meet the villagers of Bhangar in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district to lead an anti land-grab movement against the TMC government. The CPI(ML) said several of its leaders have filed a complaint with the Kolkata Police who say that they are not aware of his whereabouts. “We suspect the involvement of Mamata’s notorious special police in our comrade's disappearence. We demand the Mamata government to unconditionally produce comrade KN Ramachandran immediately. We appeal to the communists, progressive democratic forces and like-minded people for their whole hearted solidarity and support at this critical juncture,” added the statement. A land acquisition drive for a power project in Bhangar at the behest of a strongman of the TMC had culminated in violent clashes between protesting villagers and the police last week. TMC strongman, Arabul Islam, had reportedly acquired the land in 2013 for setting up a 440/220KV substation to transmit power between West Bengal and Purnea in the neighbouring state of Bihar. Farmers and villagers led by Kalu Sheikh have been protesting ever since. Villagers say it will lead to the transmission of electricity through high-tension wires passing through the villages. The anti-land acquisition movement is reportedly being led by CPI(ML). Several leaders of the party, including Alik Chakraborty, Sharmistha Chowdhury and Pradip Singh Thakur, are under the scanner of the West Bengal police. Ramachandran, who hails from Kerala, was scheduled visit Bhangar on Monday. (WION)

Left party leader protesting against land acquisition goes missing in India's Bengal

Two persons died and another was critically injured on Tuesday in alleged police firing on protesters agitating over the acquisition of their land for a power project in India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal. 
 
One of those with bullet injuries, Mofizul Ali Khan, was rushed to SSKM Hospital in state capital Kolkata where he later died. Of the other two who were admitted in RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, Alam, also later succumbed to his injuries while the other patient continues to be critical. 
 
The state&#39;s chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier assured agitating protesters that their land would not be acquired for a power project, later retracted her statement which was deleted from Twitter where it had been posted.

A land acquisition drive for a power project in the Bhangar division in Bengal&rsquo;s South 24 Parganas district at the behest of a strongman of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party had culminated in violent clashes between protesting villagers and the police.&nbsp;

Villagers alleged police excesses and claim that the police opened fire on them today and also went on a rampage and barged into their houses, ransacking them last night. The police maintained that it was the other way round and that a few police officers were also injured in the incident.&nbsp;

The police also said they had restricted themselves to the use of rubber bullets, a non-lethal weapon.

&ldquo;We restricted ourselves to the use of tear gas shells and rubber bullets. These are non-lethal weapons, which cannot result in any injury or death,&rdquo;&nbsp;a senior police official, who refused to be named told WION.

The protests&nbsp;were over the acquisition of 13 acres of farmers&#39; land in Bhangar by a local TMC leader for a power project of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, an enterprise of the federal government.&nbsp; 
 
The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has been informed that the work at the Bhangar unit will remain permanently suspended, sources in the state administration told WION.

In a&nbsp;statement, posted on her party&#39;s official Twitter account, Mamata Banerjee earlier said the proposed power grid would be relocated if required.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
No land will be acquired if people don&#39;t want to give away land. Proposed power grid will be relocated if required: <a href="https://twitter.com/MamataOfficial">@MamataOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bhangor?src=hash">#Bhangor</a>
&mdash; AITC (@AITCofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/AITCofficial/status/821339767279382528">January 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Protestors set ablaze two police vehicles and vandalised six others.Tension still prevails in the area.&nbsp;

Sources at the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, said a huge contingent of Kolkata Police force will be rushed at night to Bhangor to identify &quot;outsiders&quot;, who are reportedly spearheading the agitation.&nbsp;

Bhangar witnessed large scale violence and battles with the district police throughout the day, shaking up the entire administration and police force. Villagers were spotted pelting stones and wooden sticks at the police who, in turn, fired tear-gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse agitating protestors.&nbsp;

The fierce resistance took place despite the government&rsquo;s assertion that work on the power grid substation will remain suspended.&nbsp;

Trinamool Congress strongman from Bhangar, Arabul Islam, had reportedly acquired the land in 2013 for setting up a 440/220KV substation to transmit power between West Bengal and Purnea in the neighbouring state of Bihar.&nbsp;

Farmers and villagers led by Kalu Sheikh have been protesting ever since, demanding that work on the substation be suspended and land be returned to them.&nbsp;

Bhangar has been on the boil on several occasions. However, the movement gained momentum over the last week when work on the substation was almost over and it was on the verge of getting functional.&nbsp;

The movement took a fierce turn last night, when Kalu Sheikh was allegedly picked up by police. Villagers of Machhidanga hit the streets demanding his immediate release. Within hours of witnessing clashes, Kalu Sheikh was released by the police after pressure mounted on them, according to the villagers.

The state administration has rushed two of its senior leaders, Abdur Rezzak Mollah and Mukul Roy to bring the situation under control.&nbsp;

The police have cordoned off the entire area in and around the main gate of the power grid substation and deployed the Rapid Action Force and a huge contingent of combat force.&nbsp;

The movement for the closure of the substation continues to gain momentum. The state power minister, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, said, &quot;Work has been suspended. Why is the agitation on? We have agreed to their demand. I will have a dialogue with them.&rdquo;

Ironically, the TMC was the party which spearheaded the protests over land acquisition for industrial purposes in West Bengal&#39;s Nandigram and Singur.

Many see a resemblance between the protests in Bhangar with the Nandigram movement of 2007.&nbsp;

The way the villagers blocked roads with uprooted trees to prevent police from entering the villages, the way they surrounded police from three sides and pelted stones at them in an organised manner, reminded many of the Nandigram movement.&nbsp;

Observers close to the ruling party claim that this movement has been &lsquo;hijacked&rsquo; and is not led by villagers. Some even see a Maoist hand behind it. 
 
(WION)

A land acquisition drive for a power project at the behest of a strongman from the ruling Trinamool Congress party led to violence

Two persons died and another was critically injured on Tuesday in alleged police firing on protesters agitating over the acquisition of their land for a power project in India's eastern state of West Bengal. One of those with bullet injuries, Mofizul Ali Khan, was rushed to SSKM Hospital in state capital Kolkata where he later died. Of the other two who were admitted in RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, Alam, also later succumbed to his injuries while the other patient continues to be critical. The state's chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier assured agitating protesters that their land would not be acquired for a power project, later retracted her statement which was deleted from Twitter where it had been posted. A land acquisition drive for a power project in the Bhangar division in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district at the behest of a strongman of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party had culminated in violent clashes between protesting villagers and the police. Villagers alleged police excesses and claim that the police opened fire on them today and also went on a rampage and barged into their houses, ransacking them last night. The police maintained that it was the other way round and that a few police officers were also injured in the incident. The police also said they had restricted themselves to the use of rubber bullets, a non-lethal weapon. “We restricted ourselves to the use of tear gas shells and rubber bullets. These are non-lethal weapons, which cannot result in any injury or death,” a senior police official, who refused to be named told WION. The protests were over the acquisition of 13 acres of farmers' land in Bhangar by a local TMC leader for a power project of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, an enterprise of the federal government. The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has been informed that the work at the Bhangar unit will remain permanently suspended, sources in the state administration told WION. In a statement, posted on her party's official Twitter account, Mamata Banerjee earlier said the proposed power grid would be relocated if required. No land will be acquired if people don't want to give away land. Proposed power grid will be relocated if required: @MamataOfficial #Bhangor — AITC (@AITCofficial) January 17, 2017 × Protestors set ablaze two police vehicles and vandalised six others.Tension still prevails in the area. Sources at the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, said a huge contingent of Kolkata Police force will be rushed at night to Bhangor to identify "outsiders", who are reportedly spearheading the agitation. Bhangar witnessed large scale violence and battles with the district police throughout the day, shaking up the entire administration and police force. Villagers were spotted pelting stones and wooden sticks at the police who, in turn, fired tear-gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse agitating protestors. The fierce resistance took place despite the government’s assertion that work on the power grid substation will remain suspended. Trinamool Congress strongman from Bhangar, Arabul Islam, had reportedly acquired the land in 2013 for setting up a 440/220KV substation to transmit power between West Bengal and Purnea in the neighbouring state of Bihar. Farmers and villagers led by Kalu Sheikh have been protesting ever since, demanding that work on the substation be suspended and land be returned to them. Bhangar has been on the boil on several occasions. However, the movement gained momentum over the last week when work on the substation was almost over and it was on the verge of getting functional. The movement took a fierce turn last night, when Kalu Sheikh was allegedly picked up by police. Villagers of Machhidanga hit the streets demanding his immediate release. Within hours of witnessing clashes, Kalu Sheikh was released by the police after pressure mounted on them, according to the villagers. The state administration has rushed two of its senior leaders, Abdur Rezzak Mollah and Mukul Roy to bring the situation under control. The police have cordoned off the entire area in and around the main gate of the power grid substation and deployed the Rapid Action Force and a huge contingent of combat force. The movement for the closure of the substation continues to gain momentum. The state power minister, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, said, "Work has been suspended. Why is the agitation on? We have agreed to their demand. I will have a dialogue with them.” Ironically, the TMC was the party which spearheaded the protests over land acquisition for industrial purposes in West Bengal's Nandigram and Singur. Many see a resemblance between the protests in Bhangar with the Nandigram movement of 2007. The way the villagers blocked roads with uprooted trees to prevent police from entering the villages, the way they surrounded police from three sides and pelted stones at them in an organised manner, reminded many of the Nandigram movement. Observers close to the ruling party claim that this movement has been ‘hijacked’ and is not led by villagers. Some even see a Maoist hand behind it. (WION)

Bengal anti-land grab agitation: Two dead in alleged police firing on protesters

States across India are bypassing land acquisition laws by introducing land pooling schemes to speed up industrial and development projects, a move that activists say leaves farmers and the environment vulnerable.

Land pooling enables the quick consolidation of small land holdings. Land owners get back a share of developed land, while the state keeps the remainder for its use.

It is different from the federal Land Acquisition Act of 2013, which requires consensus to buy the land, a social impact assessment, rehabilitation for those displaced and compensation of up to four times the market value.

But with no public consultations, owners may come under pressure from the community or the state to participate, activists said.

&quot;It can be a fair and equitable system if there is a way to ensure there is no compulsion, and if a social impact assessment is done,&quot; said EAS&nbsp;Sarma, a land rights activist in Andhra Pradesh.

&quot;Otherwise, the system offers few rights and protections to farmers and other vulnerable people who are affected,&quot; he said.

In Andhra Pradesh, the country&#39;s largest exercise in land pooling is under way to develop the new capital city Amaravati with 38,000 acres (15,378 hectares) of land.

About 35,000 acres have been committed since the scheme was unveiled early last year, officials said.&nbsp;

But most of the land is owned by wealthy landlords whose poor tenant farmers are being displaced, with no recourse to compensation under the pooling law, Sarma said.

Stalled projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to abandon a move to amend the federal land law last year to make it easier for companies to acquire land, after opposition from farmers.

States including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have introduced their own laws that have diluted some of the federal law&#39;s clauses, such as the need for consensus and social impact assessment.

Other states are considering similar laws.

Land is increasingly sought in India for industrial use and development projects, as one of the world&#39;s fastest growing major economies expands.

Problems related to land acquisition accounted for at least 15 per cent of stalled projects in India, according to a report by investment firm Ambit Capital last year.

&quot;The central land acquisition law makes it very difficult to acquire land and delays important projects,&quot; said Pradeep Kapoor, a chief town planner for Rajasthan, which passed a land pooling law earlier this year.

&quot;The land pooling system is a win-win for everyone, as projects get done faster, owners are not forced to give up land, and the land also appreciates in value,&quot; he said.

With pooling, landowners voluntarily hand over their land to a government agency. The land is then developed with roads and water lines, and a portion of it is returned to the owners, who also gain from the elevated price of the land.

Advocates of the system say it is more equitable than the 2013 legislation that often sees protests, displacement of residents, delays and lengthy court battles.

&quot;The scheme allows people to be partners in development, and it has proceeded at a much faster pace than if we had used the land acquisition act,&quot; said BL&nbsp;Chennakesava Rao, a director at the Capital Region Development Authority in Andhra Pradesh.

But as in the case of Amaravati &mdash;&nbsp;named after an ancient Buddhist site &mdash;&nbsp;there is no telling how the land is being acquired, and what impact the development may have, Sarma said.&nbsp;

&quot;On the face of it, it looks fair because it is supposed to be voluntary,&quot; said Sarma.

&quot;But there is little discussion, and little study, so people are largely unaware of what they are getting into,&quot; he said.

(Thomson Reuters Foundation)

Activists are worried that bypassing the federal land acquisition law might undermine the rights of small cultivators

States across India are bypassing land acquisition laws by introducing land pooling schemes to speed up industrial and development projects, a move that activists say leaves farmers and the environment vulnerable. Land pooling enables the quick consolidation of small land holdings. Land owners get back a share of developed land, while the state keeps the remainder for its use. It is different from the federal Land Acquisition Act of 2013, which requires consensus to buy the land, a social impact assessment, rehabilitation for those displaced and compensation of up to four times the market value. But with no public consultations, owners may come under pressure from the community or the state to participate, activists said. "It can be a fair and equitable system if there is a way to ensure there is no compulsion, and if a social impact assessment is done," said EAS Sarma, a land rights activist in Andhra Pradesh. "Otherwise, the system offers few rights and protections to farmers and other vulnerable people who are affected," he said. In Andhra Pradesh, the country's largest exercise in land pooling is under way to develop the new capital city Amaravati with 38,000 acres (15,378 hectares) of land. About 35,000 acres have been committed since the scheme was unveiled early last year, officials said. But most of the land is owned by wealthy landlords whose poor tenant farmers are being displaced, with no recourse to compensation under the pooling law, Sarma said. Stalled projects Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to abandon a move to amend the federal land law last year to make it easier for companies to acquire land, after opposition from farmers. States including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have introduced their own laws that have diluted some of the federal law's clauses, such as the need for consensus and social impact assessment. Other states are considering similar laws. Land is increasingly sought in India for industrial use and development projects, as one of the world's fastest growing major economies expands. Problems related to land acquisition accounted for at least 15 per cent of stalled projects in India, according to a report by investment firm Ambit Capital last year. "The central land acquisition law makes it very difficult to acquire land and delays important projects," said Pradeep Kapoor, a chief town planner for Rajasthan, which passed a land pooling law earlier this year. "The land pooling system is a win-win for everyone, as projects get done faster, owners are not forced to give up land, and the land also appreciates in value," he said. With pooling, landowners voluntarily hand over their land to a government agency. The land is then developed with roads and water lines, and a portion of it is returned to the owners, who also gain from the elevated price of the land. Advocates of the system say it is more equitable than the 2013 legislation that often sees protests, displacement of residents, delays and lengthy court battles. "The scheme allows people to be partners in development, and it has proceeded at a much faster pace than if we had used the land acquisition act," said BL Chennakesava Rao, a director at the Capital Region Development Authority in Andhra Pradesh. But as in the case of Amaravati — named after an ancient Buddhist site — there is no telling how the land is being acquired, and what impact the development may have, Sarma said. "On the face of it, it looks fair because it is supposed to be voluntary," said Sarma. "But there is little discussion, and little study, so people are largely unaware of what they are getting into," he said. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

India: State governments' land pooling schemes leave farmers vulnerable

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