The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday submitted a report on its investigation into the March 14 police firing in Nandigram [Images] to the Calcutta High court.

Coverage: Violence in Nandigram

The court, had on November 16 last year, asked the CBI to complete its investigation and submit its report within a month, but the agency placed a preliminary report on December 17 while seeking time to prepare the final report.

On December 4, 2007, the West Bengal government had filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court's judgment on the Nandigram violence. The high court had on November 18 sharply indicted the state for unjustified firing on innocent people in Nandigarm.

In an indictment of the state government, the court had termed the March 14 firing as wholly unconstitutional and unjustifiable and directed the administration to compensate the families of each of the 14 victims with Rs five lakh.

Immediately after the police action on March 14 last year, the high court asked the CBI to inquire into the situation that prompted the police to open fire when thousands of villagers had gathered to protest the police force's attempt to enter Nandigram.

The high court, after going through the preliminary status report, had directed the CBI to submit its report by February 15, 2008.

Ruling on the state government's petition, the apex court, on December 13, 2007, restrained the CBI from initiating criminal proceedings in court against police officials for the March 14 police firing. However, it said that the agency's inquiry would continue.