Tapasi’s father fights slurs in CD affair

Following the discovery of her body in December 2007,a CBI investigation had led to the arrest of two CPM leaders — Singur zonal committee secretary Suhrid Dutta and Debashish Malik.

Both were convicted by a lower court for Tapasi’s rape and murder,and released on bail in February this year following a Calcutta HC order.

“How can any father rape his own daughter,kill her,burn her body and dump it somewhere? It’s inhuman of the CPM,which made the film,to even suggest it. Now,after the matter was taken up by the Trinamool,Biman Bose (CPM state secretary)is saying his party has nothing to do with the film. He is trying to pass the buck to the CITU,which is backed by the CPM. I have not seen the film myself,though I have heard about it,” says Manoranjan Malik,Tapasi’s father.

Malik,who had participated in the Trinamool-led protest against the land acquisition for the Nano project,says his daughter was killed by the CPM to crush the farmers’ agitation. “Look what happened. Tapasi’s death made the movement even stronger. I have not gone to the police over this film. I will do as Mamata didi advises. She has been fighting for justice for Tapasi,” Malik says. Interestingly,very few from the Trinamool appears to have viewed the film,which CPM sources said was a little over 30 minutes in duration. Malik says the film was screened once in Bora near Singur,leading to a spontaneous protest by local Trinamool workers. Ever since Bose distanced the CPM from the film on Thursday,the film CDs have disappeared.

At the CPM’s zonal committee office in Singur,party cadres said the CD was with them but orders from the party brass were to keep the film under wraps. “There is a lot of talk going on about the movie. We have been instructed not to share it with the media or organise any further public screenings. We cannot give a copy or arrange a viewing,” a senior zonal committee member said.

Suhrid Dutta,who has resumed charge as secretary after his release,was unavailable for comment.

Becharam Manna,who has now emerged as the Trinamool’s face in Singur after being at the forefront of the anti-Nano agitation,said: “I have heard that the film was screened at a couple of places in Singur,but I haven’t seen it. It is a disgusting portrayal of Tapasi’s death. No one believes it here. The CPM is trying its best to malign Tapasi with an eye on the polls,” Manna said.