Cong to take up TMC leader murder with Shinde, backs demand for CBI probe

After receiving little help from her party for almost two years, Pratima Dutta, a TMC panchayat member in Howrah district and wife of slain TMC leader and environment activist Tapan Dutta, today met PCC president Pradip Bhattacharya.

The PCC assured her that it would raise the issue with the central government.

Pratima was also assured that the incident would be communicated to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Tapan Dutta was killed in May 2011 in Bally for protesting against illegal filling of water bodies in the area.

Bhattacharya, who met Praima at the party headquarters today, said the party had sought an appointment with Governor M K Narayanan and will also seek his intervention in the matter.

“It has been over a year and a half since Dutta was killed, but the family is yet to get justice. We will stand by her and seek a central probe,” said Bhattacharya.

After the meeting, Pratima said, “I have lost faith in the CID investigation and in the state government. I want justice for my husband. I have run from pillar to post. I tried to meet the state law minister several times, but he did not meet us. I wrote our chief minister, but nothing happened. Today I have come here for central intervention. The arrested persons are out on bail and threatening us.”