The Central Reserve Police Force personnel, deployed at Nandigram since November last year, would continue to remain there till the West Bengal Panchayat elections, scheduled to be held in May.

"The CRPF will remain posted at Nandigram [Images] till the panchayat polls," state's Home Secretary P R Roy said on Thursday.

The CRPF personnel were deployed initially for three months at Nandigram, from November 12, 2007, after its 'recapture' by the Communist Party of India � Marxist.

Of the five companies (about 500 personnel) sent by the Centre after Marxist cadres 'recaptured' the area from the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, only three remain, besides a company of the Indian Reserve Battalion.

Clashes resurfaced after four months on Sunday and Monday morning. Guns were allegedly used in the clashes between CPI-M workers and Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee members, leaving five people injured.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had visited Nandigram on Tuesday to distribute title deeds to the landless and had appealed to his own party, the CPI-M, and the Trinamool Congress for peace. He also appealed for the renewal of development work in the region, which has been stalled for a year because of the violence.

Roy and Chief Secretary A K Deb on Thursday met Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who had indicted the government last year for the 'recapture'.

Roy told reporters that the situation was under control but preventive arrests at the trouble spots in East Midnapore district would be made till the panchayat elections.