West Bengal: Panchayat polls: CPM MP has tiff with CRPF DIG

Nandigram: A tiff erupted on Sunday between a West Bengal CPI(M) MP and a CRPF DIG in Nandigram, who has been accused of molesting two women, a charge denied by the officer. Two women of Sonachura village here have alleged that CRPF DIG Alok Raj molested them last night and lodged FIRs in the police station in Nandigram, which has witnessed fresh violence and tension in the wake of panchayat polls. CPI-M MP Lakshman Seth, who had a heated telephonic conversation with Raj, claimed that the CRPF officer was moving about during the panchayat polling in the trouble-torn area without a Magistrate, violating a directive by the state home department. Alleging that Raj had hung up the phone when he tried to call him several times, Seth said, ``I told him that this behaviour of his was discourteous.`` The DIG alleged that Seth was trying to put pressure on him, a charge which the MP rejected. Seth said that "the state home department has issued an order that the CRPF will not move without the police and a magistrate. I only reminded the DIG, CRPF of this order.`` The DIG, who maintained that he had received at least a 100 calls since morning, told Seth that he was "very hurt" that "false" firs have been filed against him. "Why? what wrong have I done? I will go to the honourable court and I will ask the court to intervene in this matter and have a CBI or a judicial inquiry into this...," Raj said, according to telephonic talk between the two quoted by a private news channel. Officer-in-charge of Nandigram police station Debashish Chakraborty said the women had lodged FIRs stating that they had been beaten up and molested by Raj last night during a raid. Raj said ``I don`t care about any false allegation. Let there be an independent inquiry. I am not afraid of such allegations and will continue to do my duties here.`` He said he was busy at a meeting last night and did not leave the CRPF camp. Meanwhile, polling in East Midnapore district, including Nandigram and in four other districts, remained by and large peaceful. The state Congress party alleged that party candidate in Nandigram-II Chittaranjan Adak was kidnapped and locked up by the CPI-M. (My News.In)