Forward Bloc demands judicial inquiry into Kishenji's death

Describing the killing of Maoist leader Kishenji as "shocking", the Forward Bloc today demanded a judicial inquiry into his death.

"The manner in which Kishenji was killed is shocking. We do not accept his political line, but the way in which he was hounded out and killed is not acceptable," Bloc state secretary Ashok Ghosh told a press conference here.

When pointed that Kishenji was responsible for many deaths in Junglemahal, Ghosh said, "he used to kill for political reasons. But we condemn the manner in which state power was used to kill him."

Kishenji could have been made to surrender after he was surrounded by the joint forces, Ghosh said.

Referring to the police firing at Mograhat, which claimed the lives of two women, he said the Trinamool Congress government had begun "political killings" within six months of coming to power in the state.

Describing the incident as "unprecedented", he demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the victims.

Asked to comment on the Centre's reported decision to hold the Cabinet plan allowing FDI in retail till a consensus was reached on the issue, Ghosh said, "whatever Pranab Mukherjee has told Mamata Banerjee in this regard is with an eye to garner votes."