By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal’s opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday termed as a “heinous conspiracy” the state government’s decision to order a judicial inquiry into the Sainbari case, in which four Congress loyalists were killed 41 years back.
Expressing “surprise” over the decision, the CPI-M said in a media statement said that the decision to re-constitute a judicial commission on the “unfortunate” death of “three persons” following an attack on a rally brought out by the leftists and the resultant clash in Burdwan town March 17, 1970 was based on news appearing in some “fiercely anti-Left Front newspapers”.
“This process is not only unethical, unconstitutional and undemocratic, but also a heinous conspiracy to harass our party,” the statement said.
The CPI-M said following the incident, leftist leaders and workers came under attacks across the state including in Burdwan town.
“The district leadership was sucked into the case in a planned manner and many of the leaders were arrested. 16 leaders and workers became victim of atrocities while the defence counsel and a CPI-M leader who was helping him were killed. Even the authorities refused to accept any FIR in connection with these killings”.
The one man judicial commission formed to probe the Sainbari deaths submitted its report Feb 25, 1972.
“However, after the Left Front government came to power in 1977, the very first meeting of the ministry decided to free all political prisoners and withdraw all political cases.
“In this background, this case was also resolved and no one moved any higher court against the decision. None of the political parties, persons or organisations opposed the decision,” it said.
The release alleged that the new Congress-Trinamool Congress government has “suddenly” ordered a judicial probe into the 41-year-old incident to implicate CPI-M leaders.
The party demanded withdrawal of the “politically motivated” and “unconstitutional” decision and appealed to all democracy-loving people, organisations and human rights group to protest against the move.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the judicial probe into the Sainbari killings, allegedly by CPI-M backed assailants.