cbi: CBI interrogates Trinamool Congress’ Anarul Hossain and others

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which on Saturday took over the investigation into the Rampurhat violence, has interrogated Rampurhat Block I president Anarul Hossain of the Trinamool Congress and others. A CBI team also spoke to the villagers who witnessed the incident. A forensic team visited the spot at Bagtui village again on Sunday morning.

Hossain was interrogated for more than four hours. Azad Sheikh, a relative of Bhadu Sheikh, is also being interrogated. Azad Sheikh and Anarul Hossain allegedly had a telephonic conversation after Bhadu Sheikh’s death, CBI sources said.

The victim’s another relative, Mihilal Sheikh, will also be summoned on Monday. Mihilal Sheikh has alleged that his daughter had called him when the houses were set ablaze but no one helped.

“A list of the villagers was prepared by the agency officials for an interaction with them in connection with the case. We have requested the administration to find out those who fled the village,” CBI sources said.

CBI DIG Akhilesh Singh visited Rampurhat hospital on Sunday morning and took the statements of three injured persons, including a minor, sources told ET. The CBI could not record the statement of a woman who sustained more than 60% burns, as she was in a critical condition. Four persons — a minor and three women — were admitted to Rampurhat hospital with burns on March 21 night when the incident occurred.

The CBI officers also spoke to the doctors and enquired about the nature of burns the victims sustained and the condition of the patients on that night and the sequence of events. “The CBI team came here and I spoke to them. Whatever information was needed, I have given them,” Palash Das, Medical Superintendent of Rampurhat Hospital, said.

“The statement of the injured will help the agency to understand what exactly happened on the night of the incident and whether petrol or diesel was poured before setting the houses ablaze. The CBI will collect the medical records and related documents of the injured,” sources told ET.

It was alleged that a 100-strong mob stormed into Bagtui village within an hour after Trinamool leader and deputy panchayat head Bhadu Sheikh was murdered on March 21, as stated in the seven-page first information report (FIR) filed by the Rampurhat Police that night, when eight people were charred to death in Birbhum district.

The Calcutta High Court has asked the CBI to probe the incident.