CPM man kills self, wife blames Trinamool

GARBETA: Gogen Digar, a 45-year-old CPM leader in Garbeta, was found hanging at his home in Birsanghapur on Thursday. His wife Rekha alleged that her husband preferred to end his life after Trinamool supporters pressurised him to lead them to hidden firearms of which Digar had no clue about. Police said Digar committed suicide as he was in mental depression but didn't specify what led to it.
Digar, a CPM local committee member, stays barely 200 meters away from the spot where skeletons were dug out on June 4. He had apparently hanged himself last night but his family realised it on Thursday morning. Rekha alleged that over the past few days - after the recovery of the skeletons - Trinamool leaders and supporters were putting pressure on Digar to locate firearms for them. Digar, she alleged, couldn't bear the trauma and chose to end his life.
Local Trinamool leader Pawan Sau, however, refuted the allegation. "Though several supporters had been to his home asking whether he knew about the firearms, no one pressurised him." CPM's Chandrakona zonal committee secretary Sanathan Majhi said, "We have received the information. We are also trying to find out the reasons behind this suicide."
In related incidents, under instructions from DG (CID) VV Thambi, police on Thusday morning recovered a more skeletal remains from Garbeta's Benachapra area. However, a complaint by Mamata Maiti that her sister Samasti alias Suja was murdered on September 25, 2000, and buried at a nearby mango orchard also prompted the CID to scan the area. Nothing, however, was found.
In Garbeta, Trinamool supporters took it upon themselves to 'question' CPM leaders Sk Salamat and Ajit Patra - implicated by the CBI for involvement in January 4, 2001 Chota Angaria incident but later acquitted - to find out where the five missing bodies were hidden. Based on their statements, they dug up some areas in Silabati off Majuria and found some burnt wood. CID also took up the allegations leveled by Shayamal Achaya, against 40 CPM leaders including former minister Sushanta Ghosh, for investigation. Shyamal had alleged that the skeletal remains found in Garbeta on June 4 belonged to that of his father - and six others - gone missing from September 22, 2002.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee replying to reporter's queries, said, "The administration will remain neutral. It will act on its own. No political party's interference will be tolerated. Even Trinamool Congress supporters have been told this. No one should take law in their own hands."