COOCHBEHAR HOT

Attack on CPM leaders

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 11: CPI-M district secretary Mr Chandi Pal and his wife Mr Jaba Pal, happened to be a district secretariat member, were allegedly assaulted by Trinamul Congress supporters today when they were coming to Cooch Behar town from Tufanganj. The two leaders are now undergoing medical care in MJN Hospital. Their two securitymen, driver of a police vehicle and another constable too received injury.

 

State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy reported the matter to the chief minister over phone. He also demanded immediate arrest of the Trinamul Congressmen involved in the attack.

 

District magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha talked over the situation with the SP Mr Devendra Praksh Singh. He sought a detailed report from the SP. He assured that arrest of the attackers will be made as early as possible.

 

The trouble occurred when Mr Pal, who is also the convenor of the district Left Front, was coming to Cooch Behar town with Mrs Pal to attend the district secretariat meeting of the party.

 

At Chilakhana, near the local Madrasa, a truck loaded with Trinamul Congress supporters pushed out their car from the road. The policemen in another vehicle that was escorting the car rescued the injured leaders and left the place with the leaders. Again, at Chilakhana Morh, some Trinamul Congress supporters attacked the police vehicle and assaulted the two leaders. When a securityman brandished his service revolver the agitators dispersed away. At Maruganj, Trinamul Congress supporters again attacked the police vehicle. Meanwhile, on being informed a large police force appeared at the spot and rescued the leaders.

 

As all the secretariat members of the party were present at the party office in Cooch Behar they immediately adopted a decision to call a 12-hour bandh in the district tomorrow. Accordingly, on behalf of district Left Front a bandh was declared condemning the attack.

 

Agitated Left Front activists staged a demonstration at the office of the SP and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Mr Chandi Pal too lodged an FIR against Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh and sixty other Trinamul activists. State food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhimkary talked with the DM and SP and instructed them to arrest the attackers.

 

The SP Mr Devendra Prakash Sing assured the LF leaders of speedy steps. The DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said he was awaiting a detailed report from the police.

 

Tufanganj tense, double bandh call

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 11: The Students' Union election in Tufanganj College was held yesterday in an atmosphere of tension and violence. Police had to lathicharge to maintain peace. At deep of the night the counting of ballots completed. In 23 seats, the SFI bagged 17 seats and Trinamul Congress and its allies won 4 seats. ABVP candidates won the rest two seats.

 

Terming the election a rigged one and a result of conspiracy of the CPI-M and police and also demanding re-poll the Trinamul Congress staged roadblocks at several places in Tufanganj today. Roadblock was also held at Suktabari on Mathabhanga-Cooch Behar road. They also called a 12-hour bandh in Tufanganj sub-division tomorrow condemning the police atrocities taken place yesterday.

 

Mentionworthy, till the recent panchayat elections Tufanganj was known as the red bastion of the CPI-M. But, in the panchayat election the Trinamul Congress and its allies snatched power in the two blocks of the sub-division. Since then on, the CPI-M has been trying to recapture power and the Trinamul Congress trying to retain the new gained power. The students' union election in Tufanganj College turned a prestige fight between the two warring parties.

 

Today, during the roadblock programme the district CPI-M secretary Mr Chandi Pal and his wife Mrs Jaba Pal were coming to Cooch Behar to attend their party's district secretariat meeting. They were attacked at Chilakhana and Maruganj.

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh denied involvement of Trinamul supporters in the incident. The car carrying the CPI-M leaders tried to avert a collision with a calf when it skidded out of the road. "With a political intension they are trying to involve Trinamul Congress", he said.

 

State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy held district Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh responsible for the attack. He alleged that the incident was occurred following instructions from Mr Ghosh. He told the matter in detail to the chief minister over phone. As there was a warrant pending against Mr Ghosh it is not impossible for the police to arrest him, Mr Roy told the CM. Mr Pal too named Mr Ghosh in the FIR.

 

CPM leaders in hospital

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 11: District CPI_M secretary Mr Chandi Pal received injuries on his shoulder and legs when attackers assaulted him with wooden sticks. They beat his wife, Mrs Jaba Pal too. Mr Pal told the incident to the attending doctors – Dr Subrata Haldar and Dr Sovaram Mandal - at MJN Hospital. ECG of the two leaders was done and they were asked to remain in the hospital for a few days. The doctors advised them to stay in the hospital for a few days.

 

Police constable Mr Khagen Singh, securitymen Mr Bindu Hansda and Mr Chandra Chhetry and driver of police vehicle Mr Gopal Kolay too received injuries during the melee.