Tehatta firing: Bengal govt to give relief to victim

The Bengal government has announced a magisterial enquiry into the police firing on a mob at Tehatta, besides a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the deceased, Ashok Sen, and a job for one family member.

Terming the incident “unfortunate,” State Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said: “The government has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident. Nothing can compensate death. Still, the government, apart from giving Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased, will also provide job to one of the family members.”

“Tehatta is a very sensitive place and has a history of communal violence. In fact, the land in question is disputed. The administration had decided to develop it into a children’s park,” he added. “We took the decision after consulting with the locals. Most of them had agreed. But on that day, some people attacked the police with an intention of creating problem.”

“We will look into all aspects of the case, why the officer went alone and what prompted him to open fire, why there was no reinforcement and everything that is relevant to the case. We will also see whether there was any conspiracy.”

On November 14, police opened fire on villagers who staged a road block at the Houlia crossing in Tehatta demanding government’s permission to organise a community Jagaddhatri puja in the locality.