Millennium Post (Kolkata)

‘Cops must probe if any conspiracy behind recent fire incidents in state’

- SANCHITA AICH BAG

SILIGURI: Shashi Panja, the minister in-charge of Women and Child Developmen­t and Social Welfare smells a conspiracy in recent fire incidents in Bengal. She has stated that even before the state police has finished investigat­ions, the BJP has been crying hoarse, demanding NIA investigat­ions.

“These incidents are under investigat­ion. The state police should investigat­e whether there is any conspiracy behind the sudden spate of fire incidents in West Bengal. Let the state police conclude their investigat­ion,” she said.

“Without giving the state police time to investigat­e, the BJP is shouting for National Investigat­ion Agency (NIA),” stated Panja.

Minister Shashi Panja, minister of state Chandrima Bhattachar­ya, and Sabina Yasmin joined the 32-hours dharna organised by the West Bengal Mahila Trinamool Congress in Siliguri on Tuesday. From the protest stage, Shashi Panja criticised the BJP-led Central government and BJP leaders.

“BJP does politics like a vulture. They indulge in politics over bodies. They have no sympathy for the family of the deceased. Recently the opposition leader’s convoy ran over a person.The convoy did not even stop and turn around and simply carried on, let alone help. So many deaths are never desirable.

Investigat­ion into the blast incidents is underway. Our Chief Minister said that the culprits will be punished. Whether there is any conspiracy here or not will be known after investigat­ion.Nothing will be hidden,” the minister further added.

Last week, nine people were killed in an explosion in a firecracke­r factory at Egra in East Midnapore district in West Bengal. This was followed by another fire incident at Budge Budge in South 24-Parganas

in a firecracke­r godown where three people were killed.

Meanwhile, another fire incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday in Malda. Two people were killed in the fire that broke out in a market, at a firecracke­r shop at English Bazar in Malda.

Meanwhile, Sabina Yasmin, the Minister of Developmen­t and Irrigation claimed that the

explosion in Malda occurred during the unloading of carbide, not for fire-crackers.

“Soon after the incident, I spoke to the police, administra­tion and merchant chamber of commerce. I got to know that the incident occurred while unloading carbide. Investigat­ion is on. We stand with the families of the deceased,” added Sabina Yasmin.

 ?? PIC/MPOST ?? Shashi Panja, Chandrima Bhattachar­ya, Sabina Yasmin and other leaders joined the 32-hours dharna in Siliguri on Tuesday
PIC/MPOST Shashi Panja, Chandrima Bhattachar­ya, Sabina Yasmin and other leaders joined the 32-hours dharna in Siliguri on Tuesday

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India