Bengal CM orders CBI inquiry into Singur murder

Agreeing to the opposition Trinamool Congress's demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the alleged rape and murder of a young woman on Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on Tuesday reiterated his appeal to Mamta Banerjee to withdraw her indefinite fast and call for a 48-hour "Bangla bandh" from December 21.

Speaking to newsmen at the Writers Building in Kolkata on Tuesday, the chief minister said though the state govenment had already ordered a CID inquiry into Monday's incident, agreeing to the opposition's demand for a CBI inquiry, he had requested the Union home secretary to initiate necessary steps to allow the central investigation agency to probe the alleged criminal assault and murder of 19-year-old Tapashi Mallick within the boundary of the proposed land acquired for the Tata Motors' small car unit at Singur.

While appealing once again to Banerjee for withdrawing her fast immediately, which has entered the 16th day on Tuesday, the chief minister said her call for a 48-hour Bangla bandh on such a minor issue should also be called off in the wake of the state government's decision for a CBI inquiry.

He said the CID inquiry into the incident would also be held simultaneously. Elaborating his stance on the acquisition of land at Singur for the Tata Motors plant, the chief minister also made it clear that the state government had no plans to shift its stance on allowing Tata Motors to set up its unit in the already identified area.

Incidentally, the Trinamool Congress supremo called the two-day statewide bandh, the first in over four decades, after the rape and murder of the 19-year daughter of a Singur farmer by some unidentified assailant came to be known, creating a largely adverse reaction among the general public, the ruling parties as well as the state administration.

Meanwhile, state Transport Minister Subhas Chakrabarty, lambasting the Trinamool Congress for convening, what he called a "totally unjustified and useless bandh", has made it clear that the state transport department would leave no stone unturned to maintain its normal services during both days. Echoing the chief minister, he also appealed to Banerjee to withdraw her strike call.

He also urged the people to ignore it completely. He said stern action would be taken against the school service operators in the state if they refuse to take out their vehicles and do not maintain normal services because of the bandh call.