On March 14 last year, the police firing killed 14 people, who were protesting their entry to retake control of the area they had cut off from the rest of West Bengal by digging roads. They were resisting a proposed land acquisition for a special economic zone.

On July 31 2006, the state government signed an agreement with Indonesia's Salim Group to implement developmental projects, including a chemical hub, to be spread over 10,000 acres in a 50:50 joint venture in Nandigram.

A year after the incident, the gun-battles between the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Opposition-led Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee are no more a regular phenomenon.

However, clashes and skirmishes are not too uncommon. Debashis Mondal of Ranichowk, Satengabari got injured in one such incident and is being treated at Kolkata's SSKM hospital.

Has Nandigram actually returned to normal? Rediff.com visited the place on Friday to take stock of the present situation. Read on.

Text: Indrani Roy Mitra in Nandigram

Photographs: Dipak Chakraborty Image: A bullet pierced through the right forehead of 14-year-old Mir Buluali (seen with his mother) at Satengabari police firing on March 14, 2007. He was taking part in a Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee rally on that day. He is better now, and has received compensation.

Also read: Nandigram: Kolkata sheds tears

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