New Delhi, Nov 12 : Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Monday blamed the Maoists for violence in Nandigram, even as the situation in Nandigram showed no sign of improvement.

A day after CPI (M) cadres marched on the streets of Nandigram after taking control of a large part of the area, the party's general secretary blamed opposition political parties and Maoists for the deteriorating law and order situation there.

Describing the situation in Nandigram as 'abnormal', Karat said people were against Maoists.
 
"Because the democratically elected opponents cannot dislodge us, we are not going to allow them to dislodge us by force through the elements like Maoists. This is the point we would like to make as far as Nandigram is concerned," Karat said indirectly alleging opposition Trinamool taking the help of Maoists to flare up the situation there.

Karat, whose party cadres are being squarely blamed by the opposition and the other constituents of Left Front for the violence, said that the proposed chemical hub at Nandigram had been shifted to another location 11 months back and hence there was no question of conflict over the issue.

He said that the Left parties are well represented from the Panchayat to the State level in West Bengal, and certain elements wanted to wipe out the CPI-M and other Left parties.

To support his observation on Maoists, Karat recalled National Security Advisor M K Narayanan's Sunday's remarks that Maoists have intruded in Nandigram and neighbouring areas in West Bengal, and this is creating a problem, which has become the concern of both the Centre and the West Bengal Government.

Narayanan had termed the situation in Nandigram as 'tricky', and had said that it was a clear case of Maoists' involvement.

Meanwhile, fresh firing was reported in Saraswati Bazaar, Chowranghee Bazaar and Amgachia villages in Nandigram.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel also entered Nandigram today.
 
The Centre has sent a battalion of CRPF (1000 personnel) in the wake of the deteriorating law and order situation.

Life came to a grinding halt today in various parts of West Bengal due to the shutdown called by several Opposition parties to protest against the continuing violence in Nandigram over acquisition of lands for an industrial zone.

According to police, shutdown supporters blocked vehicular traffic and train movement in different parts of the state this morning.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed.

And even as the flight services remained normal, train services - both long distance and suburban -- were disrupted.

Incidents of rail blockades were also reported from Baruipur, Nabadwip, Bansberia, Chengail, Bauria, Ramrajatala and Bagnan stations.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported during the shutdown. A state bus was also set on fire near Moulali in central Kolkata.

Industrial areas such as Haldia, Durgapur, Kalyani and the Salt Lake's IT hub were hit due to a low turn out of workers on jobs.

This is the second shutdown after the State was paralysed by Trinamool Congress' 'Halt Bengal' on October 31.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi met CPI-M patriarch Jyoti Basu to seek his initiative to restore peace.

Violence in Nandigram has invited strong reactions from within the Left alliance and the Opposition parties.

The Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI), on Sunday, squarely blamed the CPI-M for the continuing violence and killings in Nandigram.

BJP President Rajnath Singh, who is in Bangalore for the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddiyurappa, demanded the dismissal of the West Bengal government. (ANI)