Singur murder case: CM recommends CBI inquiry

Kolkata, Dec 19: Agreeing to the opposition Trinamool Congress'demand, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee todayrecommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged rape and murder of a youngwoman at Singur yesterday and reiterated his appeal to Mamata Banerjeeto withdraw her ''indefinite fast'' as well as the 48-hour ''BanglaBandh'' from December 21.

Speaking to newsmen at the Writers Building here today, the ChiefMinister said though the state govenment had already ordered a CIDinquiry into the unfortunate incident, keeping in view the sentimentsof the opposition party he had decided to opt for a CBI inquiry.

''For this I have requested the Union Home Secretary to initiatenecessary steps to allow the central investigation agency to probe thealleged criminal assault and murder of 19-year-old Tapashi Mallick,since the incident happened within the boundary of the proposed landacquired for the Tata Motors' small car unit at Singur in neighbouringHooghly district,'' he said.

At the same time, Mr Bhattacherjee said he was appealing onceagain to Ms Banerjee to withdraw her fast, which has entered the 16thday today, immediately.

Described her call for a 48-hour Bangla bandh as ''totallyuncalled for'' on such an issue, he said it must also be called off inthe wake of the state government's decision for a CBI inquiry.

But the ongoing enquery by the state police's CriminalInvestigation Department(CID) into the incident would also be heldsimultaneously, the Chief Minister clarified to a query.

Elaborating his stance on the acquisition of land at Singur forthe Tata Motors'plant, Mr Bhattacharjee made it clear that the stategovernment had ''no plan to change its decision'' on allowing TataMotors to set up its unit in the already identified area.

Incidentally, the Trinamool Congress supremo has called thetwo-day statewide bandh, the first in over four decades, after thealleged rape and murder of the 19-year daughter of a Singur farmer bysome unidentified assailants yesterday, which has created an adversereaction among the general public besides generating strong protests bythe ruling parties as well as the state administration.

Meanwhile, state Transport Minister Subhas Chakrabarty lambastedthe Trinamool Congress for convening, what he called a ''totallyunjustified and useless bandh'', and made it clear that the statetransport department would leave no stone unturned to maintain itsnormal services during both the days.

Echoing the Chief Minister, he also appealed to Ms Banerjee towithdraw her strike call and simultaneously urged the people to ignoreit completely.

He said stern action would be taken against all school bus serviceoperators if they refused to take out their vehicles and did notmaintain normal services during the bandh period.

UNI

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