Ten held over India police firing

The residents fought pitched battles with the police

Investigators in India have arrested 10 people in connection with police violence on Wednesday in West Bengal.At least 14 people were killed in Nandigram, south-west of Calcutta, after the police fired at farmers.

The farmers were protesting against the West Bengal government’s planned takeover of farmland for industry.

The police had gone into Nandigram to regain control of the area which the government said had descended into lawlessness after the unrest there.

Project abandoned

Local police spokesman GA Srinivas said a team from India’s central bureau of investigation (CBI) - which is probing the firing - made the arrests in Nandigram on Saturday evening.

He said the team recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from a brick kiln.

Binoculars, cell phones and helmets, generally used by policemen were also found at the site.

Mr Srinivas refused to disclose the political affiliation of those arrested.

But there are suspicions that outsiders may have joined the police force to attack the villagers in Nandigram, protesting against the planned acquisition of farmland for an industrial complex.

The West Bengal government has now said it is abandoning the project.