CBI to probe Nisith Pramanik 'attack'

BJP MP alleged that Trinamul supporters hurled bricks at his vehicle 

Tapas Ghosh, Main Uddin Chisti | TT  |  Calcutta/Cooch Behar | 29.03.23: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday allowed a CBI probe into the alleged attack in Cooch Behar last month on the convoy of Nisith Pramanik, the Union minister of state for home affairs. 

The division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj gave the judgment after hearing a public interest litigation filed by Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. 

On February 25, Pramanik, also the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, was moving in a convoy through Burirhat in Cooch Behar's Dinhata, when alleged Trinamul supporters waved black flags and shouted slogans at him. 

It led to a clash. Police used teargas and batons to control the situation. Pramanik alleged that Trinamul supporters hurled bricks at his vehicle. 

Trinamul leaders accused Pramanik of orchestrating the violence. On Tuesday, during the hearing, Adhikari’s counsel claimed Trinamul supporters also threw bombs at the vehicle. 

The advocate general appearing for the state said the attack was a concocted story by the BJP and Trinamul workers were manhandled by "BJP’s hooligans”. 

Hearing both sides, the bench allowed a CBI probe. The Chief Justice said that since a central minister's vehicle was attacked, an independent agency should be involved in the probe.