WB: Cong wants CBI or judicial probe into hospital fire

Kolkata, Aug 30: The Congress today said it would move court seeking investigation by CBI or a retired judge into the fire and subsequent stampede at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital that left two persons dead. The party said it does not have faith in the state CID.

"We will move the Calcutta High Court this week seeking CBI investigation or a judicial probe by a retired judge into the fire and stampede," West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Chowdhury told PTI over phone from Baharampore.

Raising question over the neutrality of state CID, which is investigating the incident, Chowdhury said he wanted an independent agency to probe the fire and subsequent stampede at the state-run hospital that claimed two lives and left seven injured on Saturday last.

"When the Chief Minister herself is claiming sabotage even before conclusion of the probe, there should be an investigation by an independent agency instead of the CID, which takes orders from Mamata Banerjee," he alleged.

Alleging that the CID has arrested Congress worker Amal Gupta on false charges in a bid to prove Banerjee's sabotage claim, Chowdhury said "they have arrested the man who rescued so many persons at the hospital during the incident." Gupta was arrested yesterday by the CID.

Later, he was admitted to hospital after he complained of uneasiness.

PTI