Congman’s death shrouded in mystery

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 NOV: Diverse statements have come from the Malda district hospital superintendent, Dr Asok Biswas and the Malda district police superintendent, Mr Bhuban Mandal, over the death of one Maklesur Rahman, a Congress supporter, at Birnagar gram panchayat under Baishnabnagar police station on Monday.

Though the district hospital superintendent Dr Asok Biswas claimed that Rahman died from a crude bomb explosion, the Malda SP Mr Mandal today said no death was reported to him from the clash that purportedly took Rahman's life yesterday.

Speaking on the issue, the Malda hospital super today said: “One person (Rahman) was declared dead here. Two other minor boys injured in the clash are out of danger now and are undergoing treatment in the hospital.”

Interestingly, the Malda SP had yesterday said that he did not have information about injury to three persons admitted in hospital.

“The hospital authority should intimate the police immediately of such injuries but the hospital authority did not do so. I have asked police officers to find out the matter,” he had stated.

The hospital superintendent Dr Biswas, however, claimed that there was no need to inform the police, as the police were present in hospital.

“When a police outpost is functioning in the hospital premises why must I have to intimate the matter separately to senior police officials?” he had questioned instead.

The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has in the meantime urged all political parties to cooperate to bring down political clashes in the district.

He held an all-party meeting today and the police would undertake a special drive to nab criminals, political or otherwise, from tomorrow.

“The innocent would suffer and may also die in encounters between the police and criminals. We can avoid such untoward incidents if wanted criminals surrender before the police,” the DM said seeking all political parties’ help in the matter.

The police are awaiting court orders before they start attaching properties of more than 20 criminals in the district including that of CPI-M leader Mr Asadullah Biswas and Congress leader Mr Tuhur Biswas both involved in clashes at Majampur in the district.