Leaders of the CPM’s youth wing, DYFI on Tuesday took out a two-wheeler rally for justice for student leader Anis Khan, who died mysteriously at home in Howrah’s Amta in February.
In the run up to DYFI’s three-day 11th national conference, which begins at Salt Lake on May 12, Anis’ father Salem Khan flagged off the bicycle-cum-bike rally and thanked the DYFI for fighting to ensure justice for his son.
“I support the (DYFI) leadership. They have been fighting for my deceased son. I will go wherever they will ask me to go,” Salem told reporters before flagging off the rally that was led by DYFI state secretary Minakshi Mukherjee and president Dhrubajyoti Saha. Anis’s elder brother Sabir also participated in the rally that ended near Howrah station.
“I don't trust the SIT of the state. It was supposed to solve the case in 15 days, but has done nothing,” Salem said, asking again for a CBI probe.
Salem said if Anis committed suicide as claimed by the SIT, it needs to furnish reasons that led them to this conclusion. “What is unclear to me is why and under whose instructions did police visit our home the night Anis died,” Salem said.
Anis was allegedly thrown off the roof of his own house by cops who had visited his Amta residence late in the night of February 19, looking for the student leader who had been leading a protest against the state government on Aliah University campus for 130 days.
The death had snowballed into a political controversy with the Opposition parties, mainly the CPM, hitting the streets to demand arrest of those who “killed Anis Khan”.
The protests, some of which had turned violent, had prompted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to respond and claim that Anis used to work for the Trinamul Congress. Anis’ family had refuted Mamata’s claim and on Tuesday Salem reiterated that his son was associated with “Leftist organisations”.
Attacking the ruling party for trying to protect those who “killed Anis”, DYFI state secretary Minakshi said: "The government is conspiring to save the culprits and to do that it is using the entire administration. Whatever ploy the government adopts, we will not stop without ensuring justice for Anis and his family."
