India: Killing of eight farmers and threat of eviction to 100,000 persons due to the establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Nandigram, East Midnapore District, West Bengal.

At least eight farmers from Nandigram, East Midnapore district, have died and five more are in a serious condition due to attacks by an unknown group of persons aimed to crush the people’s movements against a proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nandigram. The police remained silent spectators and in some cases connived with the attackers. The envisaged project would result in the eviction of more than 100,000 people from their homes in Nandigram. As the majority of the affected people will not be able to find alternative sources of income, they will face hunger and starvation.