Bengal violence — Mamata says she has evidence to prove massacre by CPM

Village women told her and visiting newsmen that CPI-M cadre allegedly shot and butchered the Trinamool supporters after torching a house where they had taken shelter. They also handed over to her 26 spent cartridges bearing the stamp of Cossipore gun and shell factory.

“The police erased all evidence which could have been examined by forensic experts,” Banerjee alleged.

Claiming that the number of dead might be “more than 18”, Mamata alleged she had information that CPI-M cadre and the police removed the bodies in a police jeep and “buried them” in Jaipur jungle in neighbouring Bankura district.

“I think the chief minister is also involved in the conspiracy to remove the bodies,” she said and demanded imposition of President’s rule in the state, CM Buddhadevb Bhattacharya’s resignation and a CBI probe into the “massacre”.

Stating that she had informed Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani of the “barbaric incident”, Banerjee said a party delegation would soon meet them.

Accusing the district administration of not initiating primary investigation even three days after the FIR was lodged, Banerjee alleged the SPs of Midnapore and Bankura and the circle inspectors of Garbeta and Bishnupur “committed the crime” jointly.

Asked about her party’s next course of action, the Trinamool chief said “we will meet and then decide”. Banerjee urged BJP and Congress leaders who visited the village, to jointly protest against the “barbaric massacre”.

Former WBPCC presidents Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Somen Mitra and senior party leader Manas Bhunia called on Mamata at the village. They demanded imposition of Article 356 and resignation of the chief minister.

BJP national executive members Tapas Chatterjee and Muzaffar Khan said they would inform the prime minister about the incident. They too demanded Bhattacharya’s resignation and imposition of President’s rule.