The CPI(M) received a jolt on Tuesday after a lower court convicted two CPI(M) leaders for the 2006 murder and rape of Tapasi Malik
KOLKATA: The CPI(M) received a jolt on Tuesday after a lower court convicted two CPI(M) leaders for the 2006 murder and rape of Tapasi Malik, a teenager from Singur.
Tapasi was an active member of the Trinamool Congress-backed Save Singur Farmland Committee, which opposed the Tata Motors’ Nano factory at Singur.
While CPI(M) activist Debu Malik was directly blamed for Tapasi’s rape and murder, party heavyweight and zonal committee secretary of Singur, Shurid Dutta, was held guilty of conspiring the murder. The lower court will announce punishment on Wednesday. It could be life imprisonment or even the death penalty, say legal experts on the basis of sections under which the two have been charged.
CPI(M) leaders and counsels of the two accused said the lower court decision would be challenged in a higher court.
Tapasi’s charred body was recovered from Nano’s erstwhile premises at Singur on December 18, 2006. Around that time Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was on fast in Kolkata to protest acquisition of farmland for the plant.
A day later chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee ordered a CBI inquiry into Tapasi’s death. Months of sustained investigation later, the CBI arrested Debu Malik, a CPI(M) activist and Tapasi kin. Later, the CBI first summoned and then arrested Dutta.
There was ample drama during the last phase of hearing. Initially, the court was supposed to give its judgment on September 23, but the date was deferred till November 1. It was once again deferred till November 11.
Tapasi’s father Manoranjan Malik said he had finally received justice. Trinamool leaders said the Bengal government should accept moral responsibility and resign from the government.
Sequence of events
December 18, 2006: Tapasi’s charred body recovered in Singur
December 19, 2006: West Bengal chief minister orders CBI inquiry
June 24, 2007: CBI arrests Debu Malik
June 28, 2007: Suhrid Dutta arrested
September 23, 2008: Verdict deferred for the first time
November 1, 2008: Verdict deferred for second time
November 11, 2008: Dutta, Malik declared guilty
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
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