Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a scathing attack against Home Minister Amit Shah over the CISF firing in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi. While addressing the media, the Trinamool Congress supremo said that the party has demanded Amit Shah’s resignation over the incident. “I will be going to Mathabhanga hospital tomorrow at 10 am and from there I will go to Alipurduar. I couldn’t go to Cooch Behar today due to Model Code of Conduct as polling is going on there,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Calling the incident pre-planned, Mamata Banerjee said that she will order an inquiry over the incident. “Home Minister Amit Shah is completely responsible for today’s incident and he himself is the conspirator. I don’t blame central forces because they work under Home Minister’s order,” Mamata Banerjee said.
CISF ISSUES CLARIFICATION:
The security forces issued a statement saying the troops were first attacked by a mob. CISF has said that “5-6 miscreants have sustained fatal injuries” and “succumbed to injuries”. In a detailed statement, the CISF has said, “… at around 0935 hrs, near Booth No 126, QRT( Quick Reaction Team) of CISF 567/C headed by Coy Commander Insp/E Sunil Kumar was attacked by a mob of miscreants about 50 to 60 in numbers while they were taking a round of area along with local police representative to clear public who was resisting voters from reaching polling booths.”
CISF has said as chaos ensued, one child fell down and the mob started vandalising vehicles of the CISF team and attacked the personnel. “QRT reacted in self-defence and fired six rounds in air to disperse the mob. Shri Deepak Kumar, DC Adhoc Comdt of 567 CISF reached the spot and pacified the mob. He then left,” said the CISF statement on the violence at the Cooch Behar polling booth.