A day after the criminal investigation department (CID) claimed that former CPI(M) MP Lakshman Seth had confessed that he had prior knowledge of the 2007 Nandigram attack, the CID on Sunday started reconstructing the events leading to the recapture of the village by CPI(M) armed cadres. However, the CID officials did not take Mr Seth along with them to East Midnapore, anticipating attacks on him. The CID did not want take any chance after witnessing the sharp protests against the former MLA by angry villagers during his production at Haldia court.
Although the two other arrested CPI(M) leaders - Amiya Sahu and Ashok Guria - were taken by the state detective agency’s officers to the district in the afternoon, the strongman was kept at the CID’s headquarters at Bhawani Bhavan. CID’s deputy inspector general of police (operations) K. Jayaraman said, “The two accused were taken as part of the reconstruction process of the crime.”
Asked on Mr Seth’s absence, he explained: “He could not be taken there due to security reasons.” Mr Jayaraman, however, added that the heavyweight leader “would be taken to the spot of crime if required in future.”
At around 1.30 pm, the CID officers left Bhawani Bhavan with Mr Sahu and Mr Guria for the district. Escorted by a strong police team, they first reached Mr Sahu’s house at Puranobazar in Panskura and searched every nook and corner for evidence. His wife Mousumi and two daughters were also questioned in his presence, followed by the recording of their statements. CID sources revealed that some documents and a cellphone were recovered from the house.
Next they went to Haldia where they lodged the duo at Haldia police station. On Monday morning, they are likely to visit Mr Guria’s house at Nandigram and the spot of crime.
Meanwhile, the CID has stumbled upon the names of two police officers Debashish Bhattacharya and Sandip Sinha and a miscreant Selim in connection with the attack from the disclosure of the arrested CPI(M) leaders, sources added. The two policemen had arranged shelter for Selim and his armed gang at Mahishadal, sources revealed.