Sainbari killings return to haunt CPI(M) at the west Bengal assembly

The Sainbari killings of 1970 returned today to haunt the ruling CPI(M) as opposition Trinamool Congress and Congress demonstrated in the West Bengal assembly after their adjournment motion on the incident was rejected.

Congress and Trinamool members were on their feet as soon as speaker Hasim Abdul Halim rejected the adjournment motion on the murder case jointly moved by Trinamool Congress and Congress members including leader of the opposition Partha
Chatterjee and CLP leader Manas Bhuinya. 

Halim said he was rejecting the motion as it pertained to an incident that happened 40 years ago.

The Sainbari murders occurred on March 17, 1970 in Burdwan district when a young man belonging to a well-to-do family was hacked to death, allegedly by CPI(M) supporters, and his blood smeared on the face of his mother because they had refused to switchover to the Marxist party from the Congress. Some other members of the family were also killed.

The Trinamool Congress and Congress members claimed that the Speaker had rejected the motion to shield industry minister Nirupam Sen, who was an accused in the case, and was present in the House. 

They rushed to the well and unfurled banners, demanding the arrest of Sen, along with former CPI(M) MP Anil Basu and party central committee member Benoy Konar who were also accused in the case.