KOLKATA: Three of the four people killed in CISF firing at Sitalkuchi in north Bengal’s Cooch Behar during polling on April 10 took bullets in the chest while the fourth suffered a head injury inflicted with a blunt object, according to preliminary post-mortem reports.
Sources quoted the autopsy report of Hamidul Haq, a 28-year-old mason accused of trying to snatch firearms from CISF personnel, as saying that he was shot from a distance of around 10 metres. No senior official would comment on the findings.
A special investigation team of the state CID is probing the case and the Calcutta HC has listed the matter for hearing on May 5. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said a “fair probe” would “lay bare the conspiracy behind this genocide”. CM Mamata Banerjee said in her election rallies on Monday that “bullets needs to be avenged with ballots”.
SITALKUCHI(Cooch Behar): A day after the firing deaths, several hundred villagers gathered at Amtali Madhyamik Siksha Kendra in Sitalkuchi, angry and tense. Such was their anger that the local administration had to seek police protection to hand over the bodies to the bereaved families.
A few metres away from the now-infamous polling booth is Jorpatki village. Hamidul Haq, 28, a mason, who was the first to be killed in the central force firing, stayed here. He is survived by his three-year-old daughter and a pregnant wife.
Hamidul’s next-door neighbour Samiul Miyan was a first-time voter and another victim. He used to work as a helper in a shop.
Widespread violence marred Phase 4 of West Bengal elections in Cooch Behar district, with the Sitalkuchi constituency turning battleground. Four people lost their lives in firing by CISF personnel in Sitalkuchi on April 10.
Ground Report Sitalkuchi: What happened in Cooch Behar on polling day? indiatoday.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatoday.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Bengal polls: EC adjourns voting in one booth as Trinamool alleges four shot dead by security forces
The state chief electoral officer has been asked to submit a detailed report by 5 pm. Updated 2 hours ago Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O Brien, Subrata Mukherjee and Sougata Roy (L-R) addressing a press conference on the Shitalkuchi incident on Saturday, April 10. | All India Trinamool Congress/Facebook
The Election Commission on Saturday adjourned voting at polling booth number 125 under Sitalkuchi Assembly constituency in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal after the ruling Trinamool Congress alleged that four people were shot dead in a clash with central security forces, PTI reported. The incident took place as 44 seats went to polls in the fourth phase of Assembly elections.