HALDIA/KOLKATA: The CID on Saturday took over investigation into “incidents” that led to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee sustaining “grievous injuries” on March 10. The state agency will probe a specific FIR lodged with Nandigram police against “unknown persons” who allegedly caused the injuries.
The development coincides with rising political temperature in Nandigram in the run-up to polling in the constituency on April 1. Both Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP have moved the Election Commission, seeking a thorough probe into the alleged attack on the CM. The parties have also sought a separate probe into sporadic clashes on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving many of their leaders and workers were injured.
Banerjee, who addressed six rallies in East Midnapore district on Friday and Saturday, frequently lashed out at “traitors” without naming her opponent Suvendu Adhikari. On Saturday, she addressed a rally in Khejuri, adjacent to Nandigram, urging people to “stand guard against traitors” and stop them from taking to “hooliganism”. “I will be in Nandigram from Dol (Holi). I will rent a place,” she said.
Banerjee is likely to reach Nandigram, along with several senior TMC functionaries and actor-MPs, for a high-decibel campaign.
Countering Suvendu Adhikari’s ‘tolabaj’ jibes, she said: “The person I had been affectionate towards is the biggest tolabaj… TMC didn’t endorse his work and he joined BJP to keep his money safe.”