The Hindu : Jaggi murder: NCP leader's charge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 07, 2003

Other States

Other States - Chattisgarh

Jaggi murder: NCP leader's charge

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 6. The controversy surrounding the killing of the Nationalist Congress Party's Chhattisgarh unit treasurer, Ram Avtar Jaggi, further deepened with the party leader, Vidya Charan Shukla, today alleging that police had ``planned'' the surrender of an industrialist, Yahya Debar in the case.

Addressing a press conference at Raipur today, a day after the police lodged an FIR against him for laying siege to the police station and ``forcing'' the SHO to register an FIR against the Chief Minister and his son, the NCP leader said that Mr. Debar, (elder brother of Ejaz Debar who is the NSUI president) was a businessman and his ``surrender'' would make the killing look like business rivalry. The brothers are said to be closely associated with the Congress and the Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, and his son.

Talking to The Hindu from Raipur, Mr. Shukla said police had lodged a counter FIR against him for `stealing the mobile phone of the Station House Officer'. Mr. Shukla said it was ridiculous to say that party workers laid siege to the police station and compelled the SHO to lodge another FIR against the Chief Minister and his son. ``The police cannot cancel the complaint of Jaggi's son. Only the court is empowered to do so. The complaint has to go as a supplementary statement along with the first FIR whoever lodged it,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jogi said that he was open to a CBI or judicial inquiry. At the same time, he expressed confidence in the functioning of the State police. ``We are hopeful that the culprits would be nabbed soon and the truth would be out,'' he said.

Bandh observed

A bandh was observed the State condemning Jaggi's killing. Sponsored by the NCP and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the bandh was successful. All major centres remained closed.The NCP and the BJP have been demanding a CBI enquiry into the incident and the resignation of the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the AICC general secretary, Ambika Soni, made it clear that there was no move to order a CBI probe. The central leadership of the party had been assured by Mr. Jogi that the real culprits would be arrested in a day or two, she said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Jaggi murder: NCP leader's charge