Bangshibadan: The boot is on the other foot now

Cooch Behar, Aug. 2: Three senior IPS officers and a constable of north Bengal have been charged with the murder of Bisadu Barman, one of the two Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association supporters killed in police firing at Khagrabari on September 20, 2005.

Bisadu’s widow, Kamakshya, has lodged a case in the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) against inspector-general of police, north Bengal, K.L. Meena, then deputy inspector-general of police, Jalpaiguri range, B.N. Ramesh, former Cooch Behar police superintendent Jagmohan and constable with the state armed police Samir Kumar Sinha.

Kamakshya’s lawyer, Shiben Roy, said the officers had ordered the firing which was carried out by Sinha. “My client has cited six witnesses, including her son, Sujoy Barman,” said Roy.

The CJM, Chapal Kumar Panda, has asked Kotwali police to submit a report on the allegations by September 11. The police have responded by registering a case against the officers and the constable.

Kamakshya said she had moved court after the Kotwali police repeatedly refused to file an FIR of the case.

Meena, when contacted, said he was trying to find out the details of the case.

Three policemen were also killed in the September-20 incident, which led to the arrest of association chief Bangshibadan Barman and several others, who are still in jail, awaiting trial.