Kolkata murder: CM orders judicial probe
NDTV Correspondent
Thursday, September 27, 2007, (Kolkata)
The Kolkata police are under the scanner for the unexplained death of a 30-year old computer professional Rizwanur Rehman who had dared to marry the daughter of well-known industrialist.
The West Bengal chief minister has ordered a judicial probe into the death of the computer designer.
Rizwanur's family has filed a writ petition in Calcuttta High Court demanding a CBI inquiry.
Meanwhile, a CID team visited Rizwan's house in Kolkata and collected a SIM card. They have also collected copies of Rizwan's letters informing the police chief and other officials about the legal status of his marriage to Priyanka.
The industrialist Ashok Todi was questioned by the CID on Thursday.
The police intervention in the couple's legal status and subsequent harassment of Rehaman after they were approached by Todi opposed to the marriage is raising many questions.
Voices protesting the role of the Kolkata police in the unnatural death of Rehman are getting louder.
"In this case the police have disregarded legal rights. We as Bengalis are ashamed of our police," said Sumitra Padmanabhan, General Secretary, Humanist Organsistion.
Rehman's body was found by the rail tracks near the Bidhannagar railway station last Friday.
He had married 23-year-old Priyanka, daughter of industrialist Ashok Todi, on August 18.
Todi opposed the match and lodged a missing person complaint and later a case of abduction.
The police then allegedly started harassing Rehman, threatening him with arrest if he did not let Priyanka return to her parents.
Priyanka refused to go till she was told her father was ill and a relative gave a written commitment to Rehman that Priyanka would return within seven days.
When she failed to return on September 16 as promised, Rehman went to a human rights organization for help. Five days later, he was found dead.
"A body comprising eminent jurists, ex judges eminent personalities should form a committee that have been better. Involvement of civil society in such cases is very important rather than giving to CID for investigation.
"There is an understanding that operates within police officials and therefore there is every chance of covering the crime they have committed," said Sujoto Bhadro, Association for Protection of Democratic Rights.
Adding a twist to the case, Nazrul Islam, an inspector general of police, has said he is ready to swear in court that the Kolkata Police had threatened a witness to the Rehman-Priyanka marriage.
On the backfoot, the government has promised action against any policemen involved.
"Nobody is outside the investigation," said Prasad Ranjan Roy, Home Secretary.
As these voices get louder there is a deafening silence from lalbazar.