Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Wednesday, May 07, 2003 |
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By Our Special Correspondent
Campaigning in the State for the BJP candidates contesting the May 11 panchayat elections, Mr. Sikdar was assaulted allegedly by villagers in Kalpul in North 24 Parganas. Mr. Advani told a BJP parliamentary party meeting that the Centre had exercised restraint in its dealings with the States, but this attack was a "serious matter". According to the BJP spokesperson, V.K. Malhotra, Mr. Advani told Mr. Bhattacharjee that the attack on Mr. Sikdar, which followed reports that 10,000 prospective candidates were prevented from filing nominations, constituted an assault on democracy and efforts at creating grassroots democracy. He asked for a complete report from the State Government.
PM calls up Sikdar
UNI, PTI report from Kolkata: Expressing concern over the attack, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today rang up Mr. Sikdar, who had been admitted to a North Kolkata nursing home, to inquire about his health. Mr. Sikdar had been admitted to a North Kolkata nursing home. Mr. Vajpayee reportedly asked him to prepare a detailed report of yesterday's incident and send it to his office after he recovered, the BJP State general-secretary, Badal Bhattacharya, quoting Mr. Sikdar told UNI. The BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu, also inquired about Mr. Sikdar's health. Meanwhile, police arrested 32 persons in connection with the attack on Mr. Sikdar, with the North 24-Parganas District Intelligence Branch (DIB) beginning an inquiry into yesterday's incident. ``Yesterday, 20 persons were arrested. During overnight raids, we arrested 12 more, bringing the total number of arrested to 32. Of these, about 15 belong to the CPI(M) and the remaining to the BJP and the Trinamool Congress,'' the Deputy IGP (Headquarter), Narayan Ghosh, told newsmen here today. Stating that Mr. Sikdar was not the target of the attackers, Mr. Ghosh said he had received "splinter injuries" when he arrived at Kaipur during a fight between BJP and CPI(M) supporters after a festoon was torn down. Asked to comment on Mr. Sikdar's allegation yesterday that the District SP, Basudev Bag, had failed to make adequate police arrangement for his visit despite promising to do so, Mr. Ghosh said, ``I am not aware what conversation the SP had with the Minister. The DIB is conducting an inquiry into the incident. If it is found that adequate police was not given despite commitment, it would be looked into.''
Show cause notice served
A police officer was served show cause notice and the Additional Superintendent of Police (DIB) asked to explain the lapses in the security arrangements after yesterday's attack on Mr. Sikdar. Official sources said the Inspector in-charge of Barasat Police Station, Swapan Paul, had been served show cause notice because of lack of proper police arrangement for the Union Minister's meeting.
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