Lalgarh massacre: W Bengal government opposes CBI probe

Kolkata, January 13 (PTI): The West Bengal government on Thursday opposed a CBI probe into the Lalgarh massacre that claimed seven lives as also compensation and told the Calcutta High Court that the CID be allowed to continue the investigation. Denying that the CID would not be able to properly investigate as alleged by the petitioner, Calcutta High Court Bar Association in a PIL, the government said in its affidavit that it would make all efforts to ensure that the actual culprits were punished in accordance with law.
Not answering directly to the charge of existence of CPI(M) armed camps in West Midnapore district, the affidavit stated that it would ensure that no camp existed for storing arms and weapons by any political party. “With regard to ‘dismantling’ of camps allegedly at the behest of CPI(M) ... the state government shall ensure so that no camp exists for the purpose of storing arms and weapons by or at the behest of any political party,” the affidavit, signed by state Home Secretary G D Gautama said.
The affidavit stated that 25 CPI(M) party flags fixed on bamboo sticks and four leaflets of the CPI(M) were among the items seized from the two-storyed house of Rathin Dandapat at Netai village, from where the firing on villagers took place on January 7. It said that two single barrel guns were seized from the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) Centre there and a cylindrical shaped canon from the house of Dandapat where the ‘Harmad Camp’ was set up. The state also opposed any interim compensation to the victims stating that the result of the investigation will be essential prior to deciding such compensation.