Chandanagore, West Bengal: Two CPI-M workers were on Tuesday convicted of the murder a girl, whose family was opposed to the Tata Motors’ small car project in 2006 Singur.
Suhrid Dutta, former party zonal committee secretary in Singur, and CPI-M supporter Debu Mallik were found guilty of murdering Tapasi Mallik, whose half burnt body was recovered from the Tata Motors plant site in 2006.
The court of additional chief sessions judicial magistrate convicted the two of murder, criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence.
Eighteen-year-old Tapasi was a member of the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee floated by the Trinamool Congress after land acquisition for the Tata Motors Nano project, was found murdered on December 18 in 2006 at Bajemelia in Singur.
The case was initially taken over by the CID and was handed over to the CBI by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as demanded by the opposition.
Within five month's of the CBI investigations Debu Malik was arrested and Dutta three days later. The CBI had submitted the chargesheet against the two in September 2007.
CPI-M supporters thronged the court compound with red party flags and poster saying that Dutta was 'innocent' and the 'real culprits should be punished'.
After the verdict was announced, Trinamool supporters took out a procession at Singur hailing the judgement. Senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said in Kolkata, "After the verdict, the Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee government has no moral right to remain in power."
State Congress working President Pradip Bhattacherjee said it was a blow to the CPI-M, which had not distanced itself from the accused. Had the police instead of the CBI investigated the case, the truth would not have been revealed. 11111631
Prime accused Dutta's counsel Arindam Bhattacharjee said his client would move the Calcutta High Court.
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