BANDH

Bandh against murder, fresh post-mortem demanded

 

TUFANGANJ (Cooch Behar), June 15: The Trinamul Congress sponsored bandh at Deocharai Gram Panchayat area in Tufanganj passed off almost peacefully today. The bandh was called to protest against the alleged murder of a Trinamul Congress supporter.

 

A large contingent of police alongwith BSF was deployed in the area to maintain law and order during the bandh as was done yesterday. Section 144 CrPC that was promulgated there earlier is still in force.

 

Mentionworthy, Tufanganj turned tense once again since Saturday morning after recovery of the body of one Abu Bakkar Siddiqi (52) alias Danab Ali. The body was recovered from a waterlogged paddy field near his residence at Chulkani Bazar of Uttar Deocharai village.

 

District Trinamul Congress vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta alleged that the man was strangled to death. He held the CPI-M responsible and demanded immediate arrest of the persons involved with the crime. He alleged that the police and other authorities concerned are trying to pass the death as a case of mere heart attack in the post-mortem report following the diktat of CPI-M leaders. Fresh port-mortem of the body should be done at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital to ascertain the actual cause of the death, he demanded.

 

Earlier to this incident, violence occurred between CPI-M and Trinamul Congress supporters at Nakkatigachh area of Tufanganj on Wednesday night. One college student was killed and several others were injured in that incident. Section 144 CrPC was promulgated and BSF had to be deployed to maintain peace. Bandh was also held in Tufanganj on Thursday. []

 

Timber seized, 4 arrested

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 15: During a drive against timber smuggling for the past few days, the Cooch Behar social forestry division officials seized timber worth Rs 2.5-lakh. Three vehicles were also seized. Four persons were arrested in connection with illegal trading of timber.

 

The raids were conducted at areas like Baxirhat, Tufanganj, Dinhata and Marichbari. Cooch Behar ADFO (SF) Mr SK Baroi and range officer Mr Rahul Mukherjee led the drive.

 

Mr Baroi said they also seized a large truck that was coming from Assam loaded with coal. Underneath the coal there were Sal and Teak planks. []

 

'Greater Cooch Behar' case hearings

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 15: Ten witnesses were examined so far in the court of the district and sessions judge during hearing of the case related to the bid to blaze a petrol pump at Khagrabari (case no. 117/2006). The first phase of the hearing already concluded and next phase will begin on 21 July and it will go on till 27 July.

 

The lawyer of the defence side Mr Shibendra Nath Roy said hearing of another case (no. 118/2006) related to the murder of two police constables will begin on 23 June and it will go on till 27 June. Hearing of the third case (no. 119/2006) related to the murder of an ASP will be held on 7-11 July, Mr Roy said.

 

Mentionworthy, on 20 September 2005, a large number of people associated with 'Greater Cooch Behar' movement had tried to enter Cooch Behar town violating Section 144 CrPC to start fast-unto-death programme demanding formation of a separate state and recognition of their mother tongue. Following large-scale violence three policemen including an ASP and two agitators were killed. In connection with that incident three cases were initiated against fifty-eight proponents of 'Greater Cooch Behar' state including Mr Bangshi Badan Barman. []