Police cite ‘shotgun’ wound, CM blames BJP- state government has ordered a CID probe into Roy’s death

Mamata told a public meeting in Raniganj that that BJP “has gone in a frenzy these days and their leaders spread false information”.

BJP and Trinamul supporters clash at Air View More in Siliguri on Tuesday. : Passang Yolmo

Avijit Sinha   |   TT   |   Siliguri   |    09.12.20  :  Bengal police have attributed the death of a BJP worker in Siliguri on Monday during clashes to “shotgun injuries”, pointing out that the law-enforcement agency does not use such a firearm.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee later blamed the BJP for the death for “publicity and propaganda”.

Since the death of Ulen Roy, 65, who took part in Monday’s Uttarkanya protest in Siliguri that ended in a clash between marchers and police, the BJP had been alleging that police firing caused his death.

The police tweeted on Tuesday: “As per the PM (post-mortem) report, ‘death was due to the effects of shotgun injuries’. Police do not use shotguns. It’s obvious that during yesterday’s protest in Siliguri, armed persons were brought and they fired from firearms.

“The deceased received pallet injuries from a shotgun fired from close range by a person standing near the deceased in the protest. This is unprecedented. Bringing armed persons in protest programme and inciting them to fire unheard off. There was a malafide intention to create violence by the use of firearms.”

Mamata told a public meeting in Raniganj that that BJP “has gone in a frenzy these days and their leaders spread false information”.

“They themselves held the rally and killed one of their own supporters… for publicity and propaganda. You carried pellets and killed a person,” Mamata said.

The state government has ordered a CID probe into Roy’s death.

BJP leaders held the police responsible for Roy’s death and demanded a CBI probe. The state police are trying to hush up the truth and the   state is trying to conceal facts by assigning a CID probe, several state BJP leaders alleged.

“That is why post-mortem was carried out past midnight and the case quickly recommended to CID. We want a CBI investigation. None of our supporters were carrying any such firearm and it seems that the police in Bengal have started using pellet guns now. We will also write to the Union home minister,” said Raju Bista, BJP’s Darjeeling MP.

Fresh violence

Violence erupted in Siliguri on Tuesday during the 12-hour strike in north Bengal called by the BJP as its supporters and those of TMC tore posters, banners and flags of each other’s parties and clashed at places that prompted the police to intervene.