CBI interrogates Nandigram Mar 14 firing witness

CBI officials interrogated one more witness as part of their probe into the March 14 police firing in Nandigram.

CBI officials on Friday interrogated one more witness as part of their probe into the March 14 police firing in Nandigram in which 14 persons were killed and over 100 injured.

Tapas Kar, a Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee member whose mother was killed on the fateful day, described how police burst teargas shells and opened fire after asking hundreds of BUPC supporters at Bhangabera to disperse. Kar said after his deposition that his mother, who was in the forefront of a procession, went missing soon after the firing and he was forced to leave the spot after being hit by a teargas shell.

Later, he discovered from newspaper reports that his mother, Basanti, was killed. He contacted hospital authorities who confirmed her death and the body was then released to him, Kar told investigators.

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He said there were two bullet marks on the body, one in the foot and the other in the lower abdomen.

To another question, Kar told the three-member CBI team that he decided to participate in the BUPC procession on March 14 after hearing news on radio about the police action there in the previous night. He apprehended that the police might enter the area to take away land.

Kar, who grows betel leaf at Kalicharanpur area, was accompanied by his father Gorachand to the CBI camp in Nandigram.

CBI had gone to Kar’s hut four days ago and collected some papers, but his neighbours assembled at the spot and made the job difficult for the investigators.

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On December four three persons deposed before CBI to give account of the March 14 firing.

Palash Giri of Dakhinkhali village, who lost his brother Proloy in the firing, and Abhijit Maity and Suresh Midda of Jalpai village, who were hit by teargas shells, then appeared before the CBI.

Currently four CBI teams are in Nandigram collecting evidence into the case.