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Bengal councillors murder issue reaches Lok Sabha; Congress demands CBI probe
Two councillors in West Bengal were shot dead on Sunday evening in two incidents days after both of them won the municipal polls held on February 27.
KOLKATA: The issue of the murder of two councillors in West Bengal reached Parliament on Tuesday with the leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, demanding a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.
Anupam Dutta, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor from Panihati Municipality in North 24 Parganas, and Tapan Kandu, a Congress councillor from Jhalda in Purulia district, were shot dead on Sunday evening in two incidents days after both of them won the municipal polls held on February 27.
“I could not come to Parliament on Monday as I was forced to go to Jhalda in Purulia. A Congress councillor Tapan Kandu was brutally murdered. He was murdered because the Congress was ahead in the process of forming the municipal board. The ruling party with the help of police administration murdered Kandu so that they could form the civic body’s board. Poll violence and post poll violence has been going on in the state. A few days ago, a student activist Anis Khan was murdered by the police. Hence, I demand a court-monitored CBI probe. The human rights commission, SC commission, ST commission and minority commission should step in,” Choudhury said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The TMC hit back saying that if the Congress has so much faith on a probe by a central agency, then they should also welcome a CBI probe when it is directed against a Congress leader.
“It seems that the Congress has immense faith on a CBI probe. They should also then welcome a CBI probe when it is directed against a member of the Gandhi family or any other Congress leader. Actually, it is a ploy of the BJP. They made a slot for the Congress to raise the demand for a CBI probe. It is a political move,” said Kunal Ghosh, TMC spokesperson.
Meanwhile several shops remained closed at Jhalda where the Congress called for a 12-hour bandh to protest against the killing of Kandu.
Family members of Kandu, including the victim’s wife Purnima Kandu, also demanded a CBI probe while alleging that the local police and a section of local TMC leaders were involved in the conspiracy. Mithun Kandu, nephew of the victim, told media that his uncle Tapan Kandu was pressurized by the local TMC leaders and the local police to join the TMC.
“Local TMC leaders had even said that if my uncle joins the TMC, he would be given the vice-chairman’s post in the civic body. My uncle, however, refused to quit the Congress,” said Mithun Kandu.
“Investigation is going on. Several persons have been questioned. If the family members can provide substantial evidence or if we find during investigation that any policeman is involved, action will be taken as per law,” said S Selvamurugan, superintendent of police in Purulia.
The BJP upped its ante against the Mamata Banerjee-administration saying that law and order has deteriorated in the state.
“There is no law and order in the state. The family members have alleged that the local police are involved. Contract killer was hired to murder him. The ruling party wants all the 108 civic boards,” said Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the state Legislative Assembly.
The TMC has hit back saying that investigation is going on and police have already arrested one person. On Monday, a youth was arrested in connection with the Panihati murder. None has been arrested in connection with the Congress councillor’s murder.
“Arrests have been made. Police is not God that they would crack the case instantly by seeing the entire thing on CCTV. They have to investigate. This will take some time. Our government is committed to maintain law and order. The chief minister is very strict and fair on this,” said Firhad Hakim, state minister.
