Midnapore, Feb. 18: A day after Trinamul Congress activists clashed with CPM supporters and burnt and looted their houses in Khejuri, they returned with arms this morning for an anti-industry rally in Nandigram.

Police persuaded the members — armed with rods, bombs and pipe guns — to return to Sonachura.

However, when the policemen went to set up a camp near Gokulnagar, about 170 km from Calcutta, pro-Trinamul villagers forced them to abandon the plan.

After the police withdrew in the afternoon, members of the Trinamul-backed Bhoomi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee marched to CPM-domina-ted Gokulnagar and hurled bombs. Several families fled to a camp set up by the party at Tekhali.

“We are trying to start a dialogue with villagers to maintain peace. The district magistrate has called an all-party meeting tomorrow,” Midnapore range deputy inspector-general N. Ramesh Babu said.

Clashes have been taking place in Nandigram since Friday night.

Pratirodh Committee convener and Trinamul leader Sheikh Sufian said: “The movement against land acquisition will continue. We would resist the CPM’s attempts to create trouble.”