Statesman News Service
MALDA, 24 AUG: Accused of looting a shrine, the North Malda MP Miss Mausam Noor has left for Kolkata ostensibly to avoid police action on the matter. Her absence, however, has drawn criticism from her supporters, who are unhappy with her for leaving the constituency when it is combating a flood situation.
Commenting on the MP's absence, the Congress MLA from Kharba, Mr Asif Mehbub said: “She should have stayed in Malda during this crisis.”
It may be noted that the officer in-charge of English Bazaar police station Mr Jayanta Lodh Chowdhury has started a suo-moto case against two Malda MPs, Miss Mausam Noor (Malda North) and Mr AH Khan Choudhury (Malda South) and four other persons including two district Congress leaders in an alleged shrine looting case at Peeranapir on Saturday.
They have been charged under several sections of the IPC, including non bail-able sections. The two MPs got into trouble after the police informed the matter to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking permission to carry out the next course of action.
Failing to manage the situation, both the MPs Mr Khan Choudhury and his niece Miss Noor left for Kolkata last night. They are reportedly trying to meet top police officials in Kolkata. They may leave for Delhi after consulting lawyers.
Denying the charges made against him and his MP niece, Mr Khan Choudhury yesterday said: “It is impossible to count money kept in locked donation boxes. This alone proves that the story of looting a huge amount of money is false. It is defamatory.”
The officer in-charge of English Bazaar police station Mr Jayanta Lodh Chowdhury, however, has reported to his superior authority that the South Malda MP Mr Khan Choudhury along with his associates including Miss Noor had ordered their supporters to break open boxes containing money and valuable articles donated by the devotees.
“The valuables and money along with the containers were collected in a vehicle bearing number plate WB-65/0443. Both the MPs and two Congress leaders accompanied the boxes in the vehicle and one Asadul Sardar assaulted me and snatched the key of the vehicle, which I took back to prevent them from fleeing. They, however, escaped,” reported the police officer. The MPs are still not available for comment. Another accused Mr Mostaque, who is a karmadhyakshya of the Malda Zilla Parishad, today said: “The police do not have the right to start a suo-moto case against the MPs” while another of the accused Mr Hasan Ali Shah, a Congress leader said: “The money which has been taken away would be deposited in the bank.”
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