Kolkata, Nov 10 : Social activist Medha Patkar today began a 48-hour hunger strike demanding Central government’s intervention to restore peace in the violence-hit Nandigram in West Bengal’s East Midnapore District.

Patkar, joined by the representatives of Forum of Artistes, and other social forums, including groups of cultural activists and intellectuals, is demanding withdrawal all cadres, apparently belonging to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), from Nandigram.

Patkar, whose convoy was allegedly attacked by CPI-M supporters when she was on her way to Nandigram on Thursday, met Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Friday and submitted a memorandum demanding "urgent intervention by the Governor as well as the Government of India to open up Nandigram by ensuring withdrawal of siege and stopping outsiders from entering."

Patkar also alleged that the police there behaved in a partisan manner.

She has also called a mass rally on November 14 without any political banner.

Meanwhile, the CPI (M) state committee is holding a meeting on Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s statement on Nandigram violence issued on Friday.

Gandhi termed as “unlawful and unacceptable” the manner of recapture of villages in Nandigram that has become a “war zone”.

“The manner in which the recapture of Nandigram villages is being attempted is totally unlawful and unacceptable,” the Governor said in a statement to the media without naming the CPI-M-led State government.

There are reports of forcibly recapture of most areas in Nandigram.

A new turf war between the CPI-M cadres and Trinamool Congress workers has already claimed four lives, besides leaving thousands homeless and dozens injured.

Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed concern over Nandigram violence and asked Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to look into it urgently.

Nandigram has been the scene of recurring clashes since January resulting in deaths, including 14 in police firing and violence on March 14 when villagers resisted the police from entering.

Sporadic clashes between rival groups have continued despite the State government's decision against the setting up of a chemical hub in the area in the face of protests from a section of the people there. (ANI)