New Delhi | The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the horrific arson incident in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, has prepared a list of 21 accused, including Trinamool Congress block president Anarul Hussain. A CBI official said on Sunday that his statement has been recorded after interrogating named accused Anarul Hussain at the agency’s temporary camp office at the government guest house in Rampur Haat.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday demanded Hussain’s arrest, citing his involvement in the violent incident.
The police had also earlier prepared the list of accused in this case and the list of accused of CBI is also almost identical.
The CBI is investigating the matter on the orders of the Calcutta High Court. A team of forensic experts led by CBI officers collected samples from the spot on March 25.
Before the court’s order, the police had registered a case in this regard and also claimed to have arrested 10 people.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties have accused the Trinamool Congress of sheltering the accused. The BJP has also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of covering up the matter. The Trinamool Congress has denied all the allegations.
After handing over the responsibility of the investigation to the CBI, the state government had said that it would help the agency in a fair investigation of the case.
It is noteworthy that on March 21, Trinamool Congress leader and local vice-president of Ramupar Haat village Bhadu Sheikh was murdered by motorcycle-borne assailants.
After this murder, the angry mob set many houses on fire. The next day police recovered the burnt bodies of at least eight people, including women and children.
