Kolkata: The CBI took over the probe into the killings in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, hours after a Calcutta High Court directive. “A team comprising senior CBI officials and forensic experts has been dispatched to examine the scene of crime,” said an agency official.
On March 21, eight people were burnt to death in the village after a Trinamool Congress deputy pradhan was murdered. The HC directed the CBI to submit a report on its findings by April 7.
“In view of this order, the state police authorities or Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state will not carry out any further investigation in the matter,” it added. While the BJP, the Left and the Congress have welcomed the order, ruling Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that “if at the instance of the BJP, there is an effort to indulge in politics of vendetta... then there will be protest and mass agitation.”
21 arrested
Police arrested 21 individuals in connection with the killings. This marks one of the largest number of arrests of TMC supporters and workers since it came to power in 2011. Police also arrested one person in connection with the murder of TMC Deputy Pradhan Bhadu Sheikh whose death set off the retaliatory killing in which eight were killed.
Didi promises to cooperate
CM Mamata Banerjee said her government will cooperate with the central agency, but protest if it follows instructions from BJP, CPM or Congress. “Let CBI do its work. We will cooperate,” Banerjee said in Bagdogra. “But if CBI does something else at the behest of BJP, CPM or Congress, we will hit the streets,” she warned.
Banerjee alleged there was a “big conspiracy” behind the mass killings. She said “the motive is very clear” -the attack was an attempt to stall the Deucha Pachami project that is expected to generate employment for 100,000 people in Birbhum alone.
