Kolkata, June 27 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday met the family of BJP worker Prashant Dey, who was killed in the Bagnan area in Howrah district in a case of political violence. Along with announcing compensation to the family, he also assured them of justice.

So far, 10 people have been arrested in this incident, out of a total of 51 names in the FIR. The Chief Minister has ordered the immediate arrest of the remaining 41 accused. He said that if necessary, the accused would have to be arrested even if they had gone underground.

The Chief Minister has already handed over the investigation of Prashant’s murder to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police.

Following his instructions, the CID started the investigation on June 21. On Saturday afternoon, Adhikari went to Prashant’s village house in Bagnan to meet the family. He also garlanded the deceased’s photo. From there, the Chief Minister went to the Bagnan police station and discussed the case with police officers and CID officials. There, he insisted on the arrest of the remaining accused.

Adhikari explained that no one would be spared in Prashant’s case. He said that if necessary, investigators would have to dig deep to find the accused.

According to him, a few people were brutally attacked with deadly weapons, and a few were still undergoing treatment in a hospital in Kolkata, where surgery was performed, and they were being treated under the special supervision of the state government.

He added that, sadly, Prashant could not be saved and that he had been following the matter since the first day.

The Howrah District Magistrate’s Office has already given the family a compensation of Rs 4 lakh. On Saturday, Adhikari announced that another Rs 5 lakh would be given from the Chief Minister’s Fund. At the same time, he announced that his elder daughter would be given a contract-based job in the BDO office.

According to the Chief Minister, money did not compensate for death, but if there was no sole earner, it was their duty to stand by the family.

He added that he had given the elder daughter a job at the BDO office, as per the rules, and that they would see in the future.

Besides, Adhikari has instructed the District Magistrate to make arrangements so that Prashant’s parents get old-age allowance. He said that it was also his responsibility to see that every accused was caught and punished according to the law.

He added that he had spoken to the police and given clear instructions that the charge sheet should be filed while the arrested were in custody, and that after the charge sheet was filed, he would also appoint a special public prosecutor.

Recently, Prashant died in the Trinamool-BJP clash. Sheikh Mofizul Islam, the deputy head of Antila Gram Panchayat in Bagnan, has been out of the area since the Assembly election results were announced.

When he returned on June 18, several BJP workers gathered outside his house. The area became heated within a few minutes over the incident.

Allegedly, Mofizul and his defectors attacked BJP workers. A scuffle broke out between the two sides. Several people were seriously injured in the incident. When they were taken to the hospital, the doctor declared Prashant dead.

–IANS

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