Demonstration condemning 'forcible cremation'

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 2: Condemning the 'forcible cremation' of 15-year-old Madhabi Barman, Trinamul Congress supporters demonstrated in front of the SDO office in Mathabhanga today. They also submitted a memorandum to the SDO demanding arrest of the seven CPI-M activists against whom the mother of the girl – Mrs Banubala Barman - had lodged a complaint to the sub-divisional police officer on 27 June.

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh, two vice-presidents – Mr Niranjan Dutta and Mr Girindra Nath Barman and two secretaries – Md Nazrul Haque and Mr Tapan Pal addressed at the gathering of party supporters in front of the SDO office today.

 

Demanding CBI inquiry into the incident Mr Ghosh said the accused 'killers' are moving freely though a murder case was lodged against them. On the otherhand, the 10-year-old brother of the girl – Sushil Barman – was sent to Korak, a government run home in Jalpaiguri, in the name of safe custody. The boy had disclosed to the media persons that his elder sister was alive when she was creamed. Sending of the boy to Jalpaiguri is nothing but a sort of arrest while the accused are moving freely, Mr Ghosh alleged. He should be sent to his parents who already had to leave the village following harassment done by CPI-M men, Mr Ghosh said.

 

Mathabhanga SDO Mr Manabendra Das said an inquiry is going on following the complaint of the girl's mother. He assured that proper action would be taken once the inquiry completes. Trinamul Congress sources said they would observe a thana gherao programme at Sitalkuchi tomorrow.

 

Meanwhile, the CPI-M too appeared in the proscenium to counter the allegations raised against them. Yesterday they staged a demonstration in front of Sitalkuchi police station. Sitalkuchi MLA and also a secretariat member of the district CPI-M, Mr Harish Barman alleged that Trinamul Congress hatched a dirty plan to malign the image of the party. He condemned lodging of a murder case against CPI-M men in connection with Madhabi's cremation. CPI-M will also organise a protest rally against the conspiracy of the Trinamul Congress at Gosairhat on Thursday, party sources said. []

 

'Greater' case hearing starts inside jail

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 2: Hearing of two cases related to Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) started today. Two witnesses were examined in the court of District and Sessions judge, Ms Anindita Ray Saraswati today. The special court was held inside Cooch Behar District Correctional Home. Fifty-six GCPA men including its chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman were produced in the court.

 

At the beginning the cases were lodged against fifty-eight persons but two of them already died under jail custody. The hearing that started today will continue till 13 July. GCPA's lawyer, Mr Shibendra Nath Roy said that thirty-three witnesses will be examined in the case related to damaging of government property at Khagrabari and fifty-three will be examined in the case related to murder of two constables at Chakchaka.

 

A large number of GCPA supporters and the relatives of the accused assembled near the CDCH today. President of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party, Mr Ashutosh Barma and other leaders too came.

 

It may be recalled that a large number of GCPA supporters were approaching towards Cooch Behar town to sit for an indefinite hunger strike on 20 September 2005. They were demanding a 'Greater Cooch Behar' state following proper implementation of the merger agreement signed between the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar and Union of India. Five persons including an ASP, two policemen and two GCPA supporters were killed on that day. Police arrested several GCPA men in connection with the violence done on that day. Later, Mr Bangshi Badan Barman surrendered before the court. Since then they were staying inside CDCH. Following court order they were granted with political prisoner status too. []