State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met on Saturday the family members of the three youths who were allegedly lynched by a mob in 2010 and promised them an audience with President Pranab Mukherjee. Trinamool Congress MLA Manirul Islam is an accused in the case
Mr. Chowdhury, who was also accompanied by the President’s son and Congress MP Abhijit Mukherjee, told the victims’ family members not to fear and if required “we (Mr. Chowdhury and Abhijit Mukherjee) will live in your house .”
Mr. Chowdhury’s visit to the Labhpur in Birbhum district comes in the wake of the victims’ mother Zarina Bibi and brother Anarul Sheikh approaching the Calcutta High Court demanding a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident. They alleged that they had been driven out of their home by Mr. Islam’s supporters. The fact that Mr. Islam’s name has been dropped from the charge sheet has also added to their plight.
Recently, a Left Front delegation, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra, met the family members of the victim.
In, 2010, the three youths, reportedly workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), were allegedly killed by TMC workers at Mr. Islam's residence.
Police allegedly dropped his name from the charge sheet by saying that his name did not appear in the recorded statement of Sanwar Sheikh, who was also assaulted by TMC men but he survived.At a TMC rally last year, Mr. Islam claimed that he had crushed under his feet three people who had indulged in atrocities against women. His comments sparked outrage across the State and were strongly condemned by Opposition parties. However, no action was taken against him by the TMC leadership.
