Search the Internet            Tips

4 bodies from Midnapore brought to Calcutta morgue

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

The West Bengal police have brought four bodies of persons alleged to have been killed by Marxist goons in Midnapore district to a morgue in Calcutta.

Giving this information, Trinamul Congress leader Pankaj Banerjee launched a broadside against Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, saying he had now lost the moral right to continue in office.

Bhattacharjee had earlier rubbished the Trinamul Congress's claim of a massacre having taken place in Choto Anguria village of Midnapore district, saying no bodies had been found.

But on Monday, following a directive from the Centre, he ordered an inquiry into the incident by the Criminal Investigation Department of the state police.

Banerjee said the four bodies were badly decomposed and could not be identified. He said with four bodies having been recovered from the jungles around Choto Anguria, there was every possibility now that more bodies would be found.

The Trinamul Congress had claimed that 18 of its workers had been killed in a pogrom by Communist Party of India, Marxist, workers in the village.

A fact-finding team of National Democratic Alliance MPs visited the village on Monday. The team will submit its report to NDA convener and Union Defence Minister George Fernandes.

Both Fernandes and Trinamul Congress president and Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee have demanded dismissal of the West Bengal government and the imposition of President's rule in the state.

The state is due to go the polls in a few months' time.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bhattacharjee asserted that the CID would impartially probe the alleged carnage and there was no need to call in the Central Bureau of Investigation as demanded by the Trinamul Congress.

Asked about the Centre's 'advisory' on Monday to the state government suggesting an impartial inquiry into the incident, Bhattacharjee shot back, "What is the meaning of impartiality? I have engaged the CID for a thorough investigation."

When reporters reminded him that the NDA fact-finding team had recommended a CBI inquiry into the incident, Bhattacharjee said, "If the CBI is impartial, then the CID is also impartial."

Additional reporting by the Press Trust of India

EARLIER REPORTS:
Trinamul revises toll from 18 to 6
Bengal fit case for central rule: NDA team
Fernandes for central rule in Bengal

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report