HALDIA/ KOLKATA: The CID on Saturday took over investigations into “incidents” that led to chief minister Mamata Banerjee sustaining “grievous injuries” on March 10. The state agency will probe a specific FIR lodged with Nandigram police against “unknown persons” who allegedly caused the injuries.
The development coincides with rising political temperatures in Nandigram in the run-up to polling in the constituency on April 1.
Both Trinamool Congress and BJP have moved the Election Commission, seeking a thorough probe into the alleged attack on Banerjee. The parties have also sought a separate probe into sporadic clashes on Wednesday and Thursday, in which several leaders and workers were injured.
Banerjee, who addressed six rallies in East Midnapore district on Friday and Saturday, frequently lashed out at “traitors” without naming her opponent Suvendu Adhikari.
On Saturday, she addressed a rally in Khejuri, adjacent to Nandigram, urging people to “stand guard against traitors” and stop them from taking to “hooliganism”. “I will be in Nandigram from Dol. I will rent a place. I have several programmes,” Banerjee said.
It is expected that the CM will reach Nandigram, along with several senior Trinamool leaders and actor-MPs, for a high-decibel campaign, which will include two roadshows that she will lead in a wheelchair.
At her Haldia meeting on Saturday, Banerjee said: “I had lavished blind affection on them and this is what they do to me. What is more shocking is that they have been in touch with BJP since 2014. If this isn’t treachery, what is? Good that they are now gone. I will come here whenever I want. Earlier, I had to take permission to come here.”
Referring to party leaders who have been imprisoned, the CM said: “People whom they didn’t like have been put behind bars. Milon Mondal stepped out on bail on Saturday after two years. Anisur (Rehman) is still in jail. Who is Anisur? He was the one who drove me to Nandigram on his motorcycle when CPM had attacked me and blocked roads.”
Countering Adhikari’s ‘tolabaj’ jibes, she said: “The person I had been affectionate towards is the biggest tolabaj of them all. He has now gone to another party. Trinamool didn’t endorse his work; so, to save his money, he has joined BJP. He has gone there to save himself from imprisonment.”