CID pulled up again for Netai probe

High Court * Agency submits a report on investigation's progress

Even as the CID submitted a report on the progress of its investigation in the January 7 Netai killings in a sealed envelope to the High Court, the Division Bench pulled up the agency for failing to arrest those named in the FIR.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice Ashim Kumar Roy asked why those named in the FIR have not been arrested till date.

Six persons were named in the FIR after nine persons died in the firing allegedly carried out by CPM cadres. Those named in the FIR were CPM local committee members Abani Singh and Aswani Chalak, CPM Zonal Committee members (Binpur) Joydev Giri and Tapan Dey, CPM district committee member Fullora Mondal and a party worker Suven Mondal. While the police have arrested Suven, they have also taken one Naba Gopal Sanki, not named in the FIR, in their custody.

Advocate General Bolai Roy, appearing for the CID, told the court that apart from Suven the remaining five persons named in the FIR are absconding and they have possibly managed to sneak into other states. The Bench then asked why the agency did not publish their photographs in newspapers and other media. Bolai, however, said that the CID initially tried to track their cellphone numbers but without any success and also conducted raids in the area. He assured the court that the agency would be able to arrest them soon.

The Bench, meanwhile, reminded that the chargesheet has to be filed within 90 days. The High Court once again told the CID that if it fails to make substantial progress in the probe, the case could be handed over to some other agency.

Earlier in the day, the CID urged the Bench not to disclose the report, citing vital clues in it which if made public could hamper the ongoing investigation. The court has fixed February 15 for the next hearing in the case.

... contd.

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