By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Calcutta High Court warned the State police officials and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that if they fail to submit a report giving satisfactory causes behind the custodial death of TMC worker, Kazi Nasiruddin, then the HC would be forced to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Calcutta HC also criticized the inept attitude of the CID.
Manuja Begum, widow of Kazi Nasiruddin.
Nasiruddin died in police custody on 18 January, 2013 at the Dhaniakhali Police Station of Hooghly District.
His wife Manuja Begum has alleged that some powerful Trinamul Congress leaders, including local MLA Ashima Patra, have conspired with the police to kill her husband.
This is not a normal death; she claimed and filed a case in Dhaliakhali police station. She has also demanded a CBI inquiry.
Congress party, CPIM and CPIM (liberation) are also demanding judicial enquiry and state Human Right Commission started an enquiry.
The Calcutta High Court has expressed their dissatisfaction about the inactiveness of CID.
Police constable of Dhaniakhlai police station Somnath Chatterjee being taken to Court on charges of murder of Nasiruddin.
On April 17 a division bench of the Chief Justice Arun Kumar Mishra and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rapped the CID on the report they submitted. The HC has warned the CID to file clear report soon else they would be forced to transfer the investigation case to CBI.
Kazi Nasiruddin (36) alias Nasu, a potato trader in local market, was a popular young TMC leader in the village Joyrambati under the Dhaniakhlai Police station of Hooghly district.
According to his wife, he had bought a new truck and had gone to Furfura Sharif shri for blessings. On his way back he had scuffle at the Dhaliakhlai Market on parking issue with the police.
Eye witness vegetable vendor Saraswati Jadav and Nasiruddin’s aide Sabir Ali said, he had stopped to buy sweets around 9.0 pm on January 18, when the argument with police began, who then “dragged him to the police Station.”
Sabir Ali and brother of Nasiruddin Mohammad Harunuddin said, they found his completely naked outside the police station at around 11.30pm. They also found torture marks, they added. He was then taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead.
Nsiruddin has left two daughters behind.
What happened after death?
As news spread rapidly in the village Joyrambati in the morning on 19 January, 2013 angry protesters gathered and blocked the road leading to the market and closed shops. Some protesters also pelted stone at the police vehicles and on police personnel.
Activities of Police:
Police Super of Hooghly District Tanmoy Roychowdhury claimed that, police patrol found Nasiruddin in an endangered condition and he possibly died due to excess liquor. An FIR had been registered and investigations are on.
District magistrate of Hooghly Manmeet Nanda said, “This matter was very serious. We have referred it to the human rights commission.”
State Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya and Abdul Mannan with the widow of the Nasiruddin.
District Police of Hooghly handed the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state. CID started their investigation on last week of January, 2013.
Police arrested two constables Amit Dey, Sanat Chatterjee and Assistance Sub-Inspector of the Dhaniakhlai Police Station Sanat Karmakar on 22 February, 2013.
Court & Human right commission:
The State human rights commission has ordered director general of the state police to investigate the matter and submit a report within three weeks.
Chinsura District Court ordered on 23 February, 2013 that, two police constables and an ASI to be taken into police custody.
The case has now come to the Calcutta High Court and after verifying the case diary Chief Justice Arun Kumar Mishra and Justice Joymalya Baghchi’s division bench said on 27 February, 2013 that, Nasiruddin was arrested by the police under the Indian Criminal penal code 42 and 290.
Union Railway Minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met with Manuja Bibi and her children.
But, police should have issued warrant order before the arrest according to the law. They noted that the police had not followed rule book, and asked them to submit a clarification before 7 March, 2013.
Division bench wanted to know from GP of Government of West Bengal, Ashok Banerjee whether any action was taken against the Officer-In-Charge of Dhaniakhali Police station?
Government’s lawyer said that that OC has been asked to give a ‘show-cause’ and transferred.
On 7 March also Chief Justice Arun Kumar Mishra and Justice Joymalya Baghchi’s division bench had expressed their dissatisfaction on the progress of CID, and ordered them to submit the report within 7 days.
On 17 April, 2013 Chief Justice Arun Kumar Mishra and Justice Joymalya Baghchi’s division bench again expressed their dissatisfaction.
Views of Political Party:
State President of Congress and MP Pradip Bhattachary and State Congress leader Manas Bhuiya along with veteran Congress leader Abdul Mannan met with the widow of Nasiruddin, Manuja Begum and demand CBI enquiry.
Later Union Railway Minister met her and alleged the ‘conspiracy’ by TMC leader.
CPIM state committee has also demand a judicial enquiry and CPIM (Liberation) has demanded a CBI probe in the matter.
SUCI state Secretary has demanded punishments to the convicted police constables.
Ready to rake up the issue, Congress has also assured of finaical support, if needed to the widow of Nasiruddin.
TMC has, however, maintained silence so far on the issue.