Lakshman Seth

Tamluk, Aug. 23: A woman today identified a skeleton found in a septic tank near Nandigram as that of her husband and lodged an FIR accusing CPM leaders Sushanta Ghosh and Lakshman Seth of instigating Trinamul Congress activist’s murder in 2001.

Apart from the two leaders, Anima Das has accused 48 CPM activists and supporters of being involved in the murder of her husband Subrata.

Ghosh, a CPM legislator, is already in police custody over a multiple murder case.

“We have started a murder case against 48 people. However, we have not yet charged Lakshman Seth, Sushanta Ghosh and Dipak Sarkar (another CPM leader). We are looking into their involvement in the case,” Utpal Naskar, the additional superintendent of police (headquarters), said.

Anima, a resident of Baratala village in Khejuri, identified the remains as that of her husband from a pair of jeans that was found on the skeleton.

“My husband was dragged out of our home by armed CPM cadres and shot dead. He had fallen on the ground and they dragged his body away,” the mother of two said.

“The police only registered a missing complaint because his body was not found,” she added.

The police will send the human remains for a DNA test. “We will also will collect blood samples from the family members,” an officer said.

At the time of the murder in 2001, Khejuri was a CPM stronghold.

Local Trinamul leaders said that on February 10, 2001, the CPM held a rally at Baratala village which was attended by Seth, Ghosh and Sarkar, the West Midnapore district CPM secretary.

“The CPM leaders declared that white saris (worn by widows) would be sent to the homes of those who would try to oppose the CPM in the area. But Trinamul activists like Subrata Das ignored the warning and organised meetings and processions,” said Shyamal Mishra, a local Trinamul leader.

Sushanta shifted

CPM legislator Ghosh was today shifted to a cell from the hospital on the Alipore central jail compound after doctors declared that there was no need to keep him under medical supervision.

Ghosh was taken to the room No. 9 of cell three where he will stay alone.