Kolkata, Nov 11: West Bengal Congress chief Pranab Mukherjee today demanded a CBI inquiry into the November 06 massacre of 19 people at Dalgaon tea garden in Jalpaiguri district in North Bengal and alleged collusion between a section of CPI(M) with extremists. Mukherjee told a press conference that the massacre also stemmed from infighting in CPI(M) as reported in the press and a CBI inquiry would reveal the truth.

Speaking after a meeting of the extended executive committee of the state Congress, Mukherjee said the party took note of the 'alarming rise' in political murders as a result of 'infighting and rivalry' within the CPI(M) and affiliated organisations. The Dalgaon massacre was a pointer to this. He also said there were complaints from various places including Bandwan in Purulia, Jhargram and west Midnapur district where extremists were present that a section of CPI(M)'s former panchayat members had links with them.

Mukherjee said if the state government wanted to improve law and order, it should re-organise the police and instruct them to be impartial in dealing with collaboraters irrespective of party affiliations. Otherwise, he said persons like former Citu leader Tarakeswar Lohar arrested with several others for the Dalgaon massacre besides convicted criminal and expelled CPI(M) leader Dulal Banerjee here would turn into Frankensteins and spell disaster to the existence of the CPI(M) in the long run.

Bureau Report