Trinamool MP to file fresh case seeking judicial probe into Nandigram firing

The move comes after the CBI,which probed the firing on the direction of the Calcutta High Court,filed the charge sheet before the court and sought permission from the state government to prosecute two IPS officers — Satyajit Bandyopadhyay and Debashis Boral — for their alleged involvement in the firing that was declared “unconstitutional” by the Calcutta High Court.

The central agency has also sought the state’s permission to prosecute another police officer,Sekhar Roy,who was the officer-in-charge of Nandigram police station when the firing on BUPC supporters was ordered. The state government is learnt to be examining the CBI’s appeal.

“People of Nandigram feel that appropriate action has not been taken against the officers and many guilty cops have been allowed to go unpunished. This is why we are going to file a fresh petition before the Calcutta High Court next week seeking a fresh judicial probe into Nandigram firing,” Trinamool MP Suvendu Adhikary,under whose leadership the Nandigram anti-land acquisition stir was spearheaded,told The Indian Express.

“The CBI has sought permission to prosecute only three IPS officers but the fact is that many more were involved in the firing. We cannot tolerate this. Each and everyone involved in the firing has to be prosecuted and punished,” Adhikary said.

He added: “The state government has withdrawn the petition filed in the Supreme Court by the previous Left Front government challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order which declared the firing unconstitutional. So the Calcutta High Court’s judgment prevails now. We will appeal before the High Court to appoint a judicial commission for inquiry and monitor the probe.”

On behalf of BUPC,senior advocate at Calcutta High Court Sekhar Roy will appear before the court,Adhikary said.

The CBI has recommended disciplinary action against and three other IPS officers allegedly involved in the firing. They are Arun Gupta (who was IG Western Range),N R Babu (who held the charge of DIG Midnapore) and Srinivasan (the then SP,East Midnapore).

The organisation,set up in 2006 to foil the LF government’s attempt to acquire land in Nandigram for a chemical hub,has threatened to launch a fresh movement seeking punishment for police officers and CPM cadres allegedly involved in the firing.