Trinamul MP Satabdi Roy on Sunday met the wife and other relatives of Bara Lalon Sheikh, a prime accused in the March 21 Bogtui massacre who was found dead in CBI custody on December 12, the visit making her the first representative of the ruling party to stand by the deceased’s family.
“The CBI (officers) told his (Bara Lalon’s) wife to come and see her husband for the last time, and beat her up in front of others. If anyone hears the wife out, it will be clear how the CBI is guilty. I will tell everything to Didi (Mamata Banerjee) and Abhishek and the party will take steps accordingly. We will stand by the family,” said Roy, the Birbhum MP.
Satabdi reached Bogtui on Sunday afternoon and spoke to Bara Lalon’s Reshma Biwi and other relatives for around 20 minutes.
The hanging body of Bara Lalon was recovered from the CBI camp office on the evening of December 12. Though the CBI claimed suicide, Reshma filed a murder complaint against seven CBI officers including the SP, DIG and investigating officer in the cattle smuggling case.
No one from Trinamul met the family members in public before Satabdi. Trinamul sources said the Birbhum MP met the family members after a nod from the party’s top leadership.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had condemned the CBI custodial death and questioned the agency’s efficiency during her speech in Meghalaya.
Reshma said she was “really happy” after the Trinamul MP promised to stand by her in her legal battles against the CBI.
“No one from Trinamul met me earlier. Didi (Satabdi Roy) promised she would be with us. I was extremely happy,” said Reshma.
Opposition parties including the BJP and Congress accused Trinamul of having a hand in getting the names of senior CBI officers in the murder complaint. Satabdi claimed Reshma had learned the names from her husband when she met him in court.
“There is an effort to prove Trinamul is helping (Reshma) name CBI officials in the complaint. I spoke to his wife and she confirmed she is not doing anything under Trinamul’s directive. She heard those names from her husband,” Satabdi said.
The CBI sealed the house of Bara Lalon soon after the Bogtui massacre during the probe. After his death, the CBI opened the house following the court’s order.
Reshma on Sunday said she discovered her valuables were burgled when her home was in CBI custody.
“I had Rs 50,000 cash and gold bangles at home. Everything was looted... I have lodged a theft complaint with Rampurhat police,” she said.
Reshma wrote to Birbhum police asking for police protection as she is fighting a legal battle against the CBI.
The CID is probing the alleged murder in custody.
