CBI takes over Netai carnage case

KOLKATA - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday officially took over investigation into the Jan 7 Netai village shootings in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, in which nine people were killed and several others injured.

“We took over the case from West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this (Tuesday) evening. An officer of deputy police superintendent rank, B.K. Pradhan has been appointed as the investigation officer of the case,” said CBI’s Superintendent of Police and in-charge of Special Crime Branch, Kolkata, Arun Bothra.

After hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI inquiry into the Netai carnage case, the Calcutta High Court Feb 18 expressed dissatisfaction over the probe then conducted by the CID and directed the state government to hand over the case to the CBI. The lawsuit was filed by the Calcutta High Court Bar Association.

Nine people, including four women, were killed and 28 others injured in the Jan 7 clashes triggered by assailants allegedly backed by the ruling Marxists in Netai near the Maoist stronghold Lalgarh in West Midnapore district.

“Officers of the CBI Kolkata unit went to the CID headquarters - Bhabani Bhawan - and all the related documents of the case have been handed over to them. Even the two accused - Abani Singh and Asiwani Chalak - arrested and remanded in our custody have also been handed over,” CID’s Additional Director General Raj Kanojia told IANS.

“We will surely visit Netai village and the house from where the assailants allegedly fired at the common people. But we are yet to fix the date of our visit,” Bothra told IANS over phone.