Facebook post triggers threat

TT, Jalpaiguri, May 8: Rohit Pashi, a Malbazar youth who was arrested in February for posting a remark against a local Trinamul councillor on Facebook, has accused a Trinamul student wing leader of threatening to assault him after May 19.

Surajit Debnath allegedly threatened Pashi in a comment under a Facebook post in which he pasted pictures of Trinamul leaders purportedly shown in the Narada sting operation.

The photo carried a caption " Hum Sab Chor Hain (All of us are thieves)".

"The same day (May 4), I saw a post by Surajit Debnath, saying he would thrash me because I had crossed all limits. I informed Malbazar police over the phone," said Pashi.

The unemployed youth said he had deleted the post, but another by Debnath had popped up. Pashi claimed: " Ektao matitay porbe na so pithe porbe. 19 May porjonto wait korun CPM er dalal ra (Not a single blow will hit the ground but all will come down on one's back. Those who are patronising the CPM should wait till May 19),' was written in the comment. I felt insecure and filed a complaint against Debnath on May 5."

After filing the complaint with a photocopy of the post, Pashi said, he deleted the posts.

Debnath denied the charge and said he had started receiving threats after the complaint was lodged against him.

"I have never made any such comment on Rohit's post. Anybody is free to make comments on the social media and I have nothing to do with it. He is trying to implicate me in a false case. After Rohit raised the allegations, I and my family are feeling insecure. People are threatening me over the phone. I have also filed a complaint with police,' said Debnath.

Nanda Kumar Dutta, the officer-in-charge of Malbazar police station, said: We have received complaints from both sides. Investigations have started."

In February, Pashi had been arrested on the complaint of Malbazar Trinamul councillor Pulin Goldar.

Pashi was accused of making a "provocative" post on Facebook after Goldar had been seen escorting a murder accused in a court. He was later released on personal bond of Rs 2,000.

Mintu Roy, the CPM zonal committee secretary of Malbazar, said the party was with Pashi and wouldn't tolerate the threats.

Tamal Ghosh, the Malbazar block Trinamul president, said Pashi wanted publicity.

"Surajit has not named anybody or has made any irresponsible comments. Rohit is simply trying to defame him and our party," Ghosh said.