Netai killings: CBI names 12 CPM men in its chargesheet

In a setback to the CPM ahead of the Assembly polls,the CBI on Monday named 12 party members in its chargesheet on Netai killings filed at the court of ACJM,Jhargram. A total of 20 persons have been named in the chargesheet. The incident pertains to the killing of nine persons on January 7. As many as 28 persons were injured in the violence.

The CPM members named in the chargesheet include party’s Binpur zonal committee secretary Anuj Pande,his cousin Dalim Pande,members of CPM Binpur Zonal committee Khalliluddin,Chandi Karan,CPM West Midnapore district committee member Fullora Mandal,former Lalgarh local committee secretary Joydev Giri,Lalgarh local committee members Tapan Dey,Abani Singh,party members Ashwini Chalak,Shubhen Mandal,Nabakumar Shanki,Rathin Dandapat. Of these,Abani Singh,Aswhini Chalak,Shubhen Mandal and Nabakumar Shanki are already lodged in Jhargram Jail. Eight of the accused have been arrested and described by the agency as ‘harmads’.

Partha Taparshi,the public prosecutor for the CBI,said that the chargesheet described how the incident took place at Netai. With villagers agitating in front of Rathin Dandapat’s house,armed men inside the house sought assistance from Birkar camp housing harmads,who rushed to Netai. Initially,they burned crackers to disperse the villagers,and later fired indiscriminately,said the chargesheet. CPM leaders were either directly involved or had an important role in setting up armed camps at Netai and Birkar,alleged Taparshi,adding that the CBI has filed chargesheet under sections 120B/ 302/ 307/ 148/ 149/ 326/ of the IPC and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The agency could file supplementary chargesheet if required,said Taparshi.

The CBI filed the chargesheet on the 40th day from taking over the probe from the CID,in accordance to an order passed by the Calcutta High Court on February 18.