Day after polls, it's Centre vs state in Nandigram

VOLATILE CHAT: A CPI-M MP was caught on camera intimidating this DIG during the panchayat polls.

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• Molestation charges against CRPF DIG found baseless
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Keywords: Alok Raj , CRPF

Nandigram (West Bengal): Nandigram is on the boil again. A day after panchayat polls were held in the strife-torn region, West Bengal is caught in another controversy after Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) DIG Alok Raj chose to go public with a heated conversation he had with CPI-M MP Lakshman Seth over the law and order situation in Nandigram.

Not only has Seth threatened to bring a charge of parliamentary privilege, the CPI-M leadership in Kolkata is now planning to raise its voice against the presence of paramilitary forces in Nandigram.

The heated exchange between Raj and Seth in front of television cameras is threatening to snowball into a major political confrontation. The CPI-M says it is ready to back Seth, arguing the CRPF official had no business to involve the media and humiliate their MP.

The row began after two women from Sonachura village in Nandigram filed an FIR against Raj accusing him and his personnel of molestation.

While Raj alleges that he is being framed, the CPI-M is livid that the DIG chose to publicise the conversation.

“It’s not only breach of privilege, it’s also unethical because I was discussing a serious matter with the DIG. I am in consultation with my party over lodging a complaint against him,” Seth told CNN-IBN.

Meanwhile, the case against Raj has got diluted because one of the alleged victims has changed her original complaint and now claims she was sexually assaulted not by the CRPF, but by Trinamool “goons.”

However, after a turbulent Sunday in Nandigram the CRPF has announced that it will make its own enquiry on the matter.

ADG of the CRPF, Eastern Zone, NR Daas said, “Our CRPF IG had gone there. He has visited the area. Whatever happened is incredible (sic). However, we don’t have official conformation. An enquiry will be conducted only after conformation.”

For the CPM, this is the best opportunity to push the CRPF out of Nandigram. The party had reluctantly let the paramilitary force into the area because Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee had made a hue and cry over the CRPF not being made available by the Centre.

The CPM supporters have disliked the presence of the force, especially during the panchayat polls. The Alok Raj incident will now be used to plead with the Centre that the CRPF has outlived its purpose.