Unclaimed case triggers panic ahead of CM's visit to Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 13: An abandoned brief case found at Rathbari along the National Highway 34 in Malda town, close to the Rathbari police outpost has created serious concern among the district administration and the public, more so, because chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is expected in the town next week.

Failing to learn what the case contained, the Malda police sought the CID bomb squad's help from Siliguri. The unclaimed luggage has been brought over to the Rathbari police outpost and has been stored under a protective jacket.

District Intelligence officials tried to unlock the case but stopped short after checking it with a metal detector. Even the special security unit of the chief minister, which is currently monitoring the CM's security arrangement before his visit here, did not risk opening the case and suggested the service of the bomb squad.

The Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay said here that he sought the CID bomb squad's service and the squad was on its way. The bomb squad is expected to reach Malda in the wee hours. “We cannot rule out any possibility and so are not taking any undue risk,” the SP, said.

Mr Anup Sarkar, a tea stall owner had found the briefcase in the morning and had informed the local traders about it. The traders looked for the case's owner and failing to locate one, informed the police. The special security unit officials today visited the spots where chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would attend two programmes on 15 and 16 November in English Bazaar town.

All police stations in the district and adjoining areas have been asked to send required forces. Police personnel from different police stations have started reporting to the headquarters. They would be trained tomorrow for the CM's duty. The chief minister will be arriving by train on 15 November afternoon and attend the state conference of the West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association in Malda College. Next day he would attend the foundation laying ceremony of the University of Gour Banga.

The special security officials today measured the routes the CM's convoy would travel through. The district administration is still undecided whether it should ask the unauthorised small traders along the route to keep their shops closed or not during the CM's visit.