Suvendu Adhikari Questions Mamata's Absence in July 21 Firing Probe

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday made the July 21 Commission report public, which probed the 1993 firing that claimed the lives of 12 youth Congress workers.

The report was released just before the annual Martyr's Day programme of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Adhikari questioned why former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not asked to depose before the Justice Susanta Chatterjee commission, despite claiming to be a prime eyewitness of the firing.

Adhikari stated that former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was sent a questionnaire, but Mamata Banerjee was not asked to give her statement. The Commission mentioned that the TMC government did not provide relevant documents for the probe.

The commission did not find any justification for the police action on the youth Congress workers. A total of 44 people were questioned, and the reports submitted by then Commissioner of Police Tushar Talukdar and other officers had discrepancies.

The commission recommended compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the kin of those killed and Rs 5 lakh to the injured. However, the TMC government gave Rs 2 lakh to the families of those killed and Rs 15,000 to the injured.

Adhikari announced that the present state government will allow a fresh FIR if the family members of those killed or injured in the firing want to file it. The government will also provide compensation from the Chief Minister's relief fund if the family members want it.

TMC MLA Madan Mitra, who had recently defected to the Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee's faction of TMC, said that although he was questioned by the Commission, he did not know the actual reason why the reports were suppressed.

The July 21 Commission report has brought to light the discrepancies and lack of justification for the police action in 1993. The West Bengal government's decision to allow a fresh FIR and provide compensation to the families of the victims is a step towards justice.

The incident has been a longstanding issue in West Bengal politics, with the TMC government facing criticism for its handling of the probe. The release of the report and the government's decision to allow a fresh FIR are significant developments in the case.

The Martyr's Day programme, which commemorates the deaths of the 12 youth Congress workers, is an annual event for the TMC. The release of the report on the eve of the programme has brought the incident back into the spotlight.

In conclusion, the release of the July 21 Commission report has raised questions about the handling of the probe and the role of the TMC government. The West Bengal government's decision to allow a fresh FIR and provide compensation to the families of the victims is a step towards justice and accountability.

The incident is a reminder of the importance of ensuring justice and accountability in cases of police excesses. The West Bengal government's actions in this case will be closely watched, and it remains to be seen how the case will proceed in the coming days.

The release of the report has also sparked a political debate in West Bengal, with the opposition criticizing the TMC government's handling of the probe. The incident is likely to remain a major issue in West Bengal politics in the coming days.

The July 21 Commission report is a significant development in the case, and its release has brought the incident back into the spotlight. The West Bengal government's decision to allow a fresh FIR and provide compensation to the families of the victims is a step towards justice and accountability.