Government officials in India's West Bengal state say they will not go forward with a plan to create an industrial zone on farmland, after 14 villagers were killed as they demonstrated against the project.
A senior West Bengal state official, Biman Bose, Saturday said land in Nandigram will not be seized.
The announcement follows Friday's general strike that paralyzed West Bengal. That strike was called to protest Wednesday's killings of 14 villagers by police as the villagers demonstrated against the government's seizure of their farmland in Nandigram.
Protesters blame the state's communist rulers for Wednesday's violence in the town, where the government wants to set up a chemical industry hub and "Special Economic Zone."
Officials say police were attempting to enter the farmland when the officers were attacked by villagers.
The government has been promoting the "Special Economic Zone" project as a major incentive for foreign investors that will boost the country's economic growth.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
