Row over death of NVF constable in Dinhata incident

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 13: The statement of AIFB general secretary Mr Debabrata Biswas over the death of the NVF personnel, Krishnakanto Barman, who had died in the clash between police and FB supporters on 5 February at Dinhata drew sharp reactions from senior police officials. Mentionworthy, five FB supporters were also killed in police firing on that day.

 

Mr Biswas had alleged that the NVF constable was killed by bullets fired by the police, not because of attacks by FB protestors. He also said that there was substantial evidence to prove that the NVF personnel had been killed in police firing. His statement has appeared in these columns of The Statesman today under title : "Bloc blames police for NVF jawan's death".

 

President of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh too believes that the NVF jawan, Krishnakanto Barman had died of police firing. He demanded a CBI probe into the Dinhata firing to unearth the truth. "We have no faith in the judicial inquiry or magisterial inquiry because it takes time to complete such an inquiry and the government keeps the report undisclosed if that goes against them", Mr Ghosh said.

 

When inquired about the matter, a top brass police official of Cooch Behar District Police termed the allegation as baseless. He however added that police officials couldn't reply such allegations raised by political leaders. "A political leader can say anything but we are not in liberty to say or reply their allegations directly", he said.

 

On condition of anonymity the official said that the NVF constable had received severe head injury and there were several marks of injury on his body. He was lynched by the mob. There were a number of eyewitnesses of the incident and video clippings too can prove it. The death certificate and the post-mortem report may be able to clear all confusions over the matter, he claimed. The deceased NVF man did not hurt anyone and his lone fault was that he was doing his duty at Dinhata, the official added. []

 

Timber haul

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 12: During a massive drive during the past three days the Cooch Behar social forestry division officials seized illegally felled timber worth Rupees one-lakh from some villages adjacent to Assam-Bengal border. Cooch Behar ADFO (SF) Mr SK Baroi said they seized logs and sawn timber like Sal and Teak during the drive. []