A day after CBI probe ordered, ruckus at Jhalda over Congress protest

There was a huge ruckus at Purulia’s Jhalda on Tuesday following a Congress protest, a day after the Calcutta High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of Jhalda municipality Congress councillor Tapan Kandu. He was shot dead by assailants on March 13 while he was on an evening walk at Jhalda near his residence.

Congress supporters and workers on Tuesday held a protest meet outside the Jhalda municipality office, in presence of Tapan Kandu’s widow Purnima. Congress workers alleged that she was physically assaulted during the protest rally. The administration had called a meeting for formation of the municipality board on Tuesday. The Congress protested this and party workers wore black badges, saying that formation of the board in such circumstances won’t be accepted by people. Congress workers entered the municipality premises and showed protest, clashing with the police. The party workers shouted slogans and broke furniture inside the municipality premises.

The Calcutta High Court has ordered CBI investigation into the Congress councillor’s murder, asking the probe agency to submit a report within 45 days.

West Bengal Police, while probing the murder, had said that the murder was the fallout of family dispute, which was refuted by Purnima, who then moved court seeking a CBI probe. She alleged that her husband was being forced by the Trinamool to join the party after the civic poll results led to a hung board.