West Bengal CPI(M) leaders meet family of girl killed in Kaliganj bomb explosion

Leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), including the party’s State secretary Md. Salim, on Saturday met the family of the girl who was killed in the Kaliganj bomb explosion on June 23. Mr. Salim was accompanied by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State president Meenakshi Mukherjee, who met the family members. They have proclaimed their allegiance to the CPI(M).

Election to the Kaliganj Assembly seat was held on June 19, and on June 23, before the results were declared, a crude bomb hurled at the house of Tammana Khatun, 9, took her life. The police have claimed that the bombs were hurled from celebratory processions. The by-election saw the Trinamool Congress candidate, Alfa Ahmed, winning the election with a margin of over 50,000 votes.

Speaking at a public gathering, Mr. Salim questioned why the area had not been sanitised, and all bombs and ammunition removed, during the elections.

“I ask the local police here — there are so many police here today because we are here. Where were you when this incident happened? The authorities — SDO (Sub Divisional Magistrate), DM (District Magistrate), IC (Inspector-in-Charge) — their job is to maintain law and order in the State, following the Constitution, and conducting fair elections. They have failed massively. We are asking for a proper investigation,” the CPI(M) State secretary said.

Those who threw bombs during celebratory processions were criminals, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government was promoting such elements, Ms. Mukherjee said.

Khatun’s family members said they were targeted because they were supporters of the CPI(M).

The police have arrested five persons in connection with the incident. On Saturday, four more persons were arrested, taking the number of those arrested to nine. Among those arrested on Saturday were were local Trinamool leaders Gawal Sheikh, and his son Bimal Sheikh.

Khatun’s mother, Sabina Yasmin, has identified Mr. Sheikh as the prime accused. “Gawal is the main mastermind here. The bomb attack happened on his orders. But there are people above him as well — the police should investigate that, too. If he is interrogated, the police will learn everything,” Ms. Yasmin said

Criminals do not belong to any political party, the TMC’s Krishnanagar organisational district chairman Rukbanur Rahman said. “It doesn’t matter which party someone supports. The horrific incident that occurred should be met with exemplary punishment. As a party, we demand that from the police,” Mr. Rahman said.