"Mini Front" demands judicial inquiry into Dinhata police firing

Kolkata, Feb 08 (UNI) The 'Mini Front', comprising three smaller partners of the ruling Left Front, today demanded a judicial inquiry into the police firing at Dinhata and punishment of all guiltiy police officials.

Leaders of the Forward Bloc, RSP and the CPI, who met for the first time after the Dinhata incident, also demanded that the crimial cases filed against Forward Bloc supporters following the incident, must be withdrawn.

" All the three parties agreed on these demands to be placed before the Chief Minister, " Forward Bloc state Secretary Ashok Ghosh told reporters.

Altogether five Forward Bloc supporters were killed in the firing on February five when they clashed with police during a law violation programme at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district.

A policeman, beaten up by the mob, also succumbed to his injuries.

The incident gave a new twist to the relation between the Forward Bloc and CPI (M), gradually falling apart over several issues.

However, today's meeting was also said to have discussed few bigger issues, including the alleged one-party dominance of the CPI(M) in the ruling coalition and the Government.

Political sources said the leaders present at the meeting agreed to build pressure to ensure that the coalition is run on consensus, and not at the 'diktat' of the CPI(M).

They also wanted the Government to ensure that police did not intervene in 'democratic movements'.

" The Left Front has to be run as a Front on the basis of consensus of all constituents, and the decision to be taken should be collective. Only this will strengthen the Front's unity.

Otherwise, things will become difficult, " the sources said.

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