Hakim does a Didi: Man detained briefly for questioning him

The Sunday’s incident reminded about the arrest of one Shiladitya Chowdhury in Jhargram after he asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a public meeting about the steps she was taking to help farmers. He was labeled a Maoist and arrested on charges of trying to assault the CM. Later,he was freed.

CPM slammed the arrest of Naskar saying the democratic rights of the people are being taken away by the Trinamool government as the common people are being threatened against speaking the truth. “People are afraid to speak the truth. It’s ridiculous to detain someone as he had asked the minister why Mamata Banerjee did not visit the affected site. We have seen such incidences in the past,where police arrested a person when he asked the Chief Minister some tough questions at a public meeting,” said Sujan Bhattacharya ,CPM leader from South 24-Parganas.

The resident of the slum complained that till now the state government has not provide them alternate shelter,and they are now being forced to stay in open fields.

Interestingly,slum dwellers have accused local Trinamool councillor and the civic body chief of vested interest in the six-acre plot where 700 shanties existed. They have accused them of sabotage as the plot is in demand in the realty sector.

Though Trinamool councillor Deepika Dutta has been named in the FIR,police are yet to arrest her. Till now,five persons have been arrested.

Hinting at a conspiracy in the fire in Maheshtala slum fire,opposition Left Front and Congress on Sunday demanded a probe. “The incident should be properly probed to unearth the truth and those who are responsible for such heinous act should be given exemplary punishment,” Left Front chairman Biman Bose said.

The fire had gutted around 700 shanties in the area,but no injuries or casualties were reported. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had termed the incident as “a small incident” and promised rehabilitation of the victims.

Reacting to her statement today Bose told reporters: “The matter is not at all a small incident. It is pre-planned.”

State Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharjee also demanded a probe into the incident. “ Our MP Deepa Dasmunsi visited the spot and gave us a horrific report about the incident.”