The madness of queen Mamata!নিন্দায় বিশ্বাস করি না, 'জবাব' মমতার!
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - EIGHT Hundred FIVE
Palash Biswas
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Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee has been caught in a controversy of her own making in West Bengal over a rape that left Kolkata cold. The city is usually considered safe for women, especially when compared to other metros like Delhi or Mumbai.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/kolkatas-park-street-rape-case-10-big-facts-177930
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Livemint opines so!We dare not consider the arguement at all! But the whimsical administrative style of Mamata has made things worse than earlier, it must be admitted. She is the head of the Government! How she denies the responsiblity in every matter whatsoever? Let it be childrens` death, farmers`s suicide, economic Crisis and simply day to day law and order problem. More amazing is the attitude of Bengali Intelligentsia which defends everything Mamata says! The media and intelligentsia do not Favour Mamata as it seems. This illogical defence of erring Chief Minister would make the Most populist CM most Unpopular very soon. The Brigade Rally last day showcases the wall writing and it may not be covered up with any Blue Paint! The ParcK Circus Rape case turns very ridiculous at the cost of the Victim as well as an efficient IAS officer DAMAYANTI Sen. Who acted like a Tigress to prove Mamata wrong and is said to be Delhi Bound very soon.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bnaerjee is meeting top police officials in Kolkata to discuss Park Street rape case. Mamata had earlier claimed that the incident was a "fabricated story" intended to malign her government.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to demand financial package for the state. Mamata has been demanding a package from the Centre claiming she inherited a treasury which was in shambles from the previous left-ruled government. The National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) matter may also be discussed. This meeting comes barely days after the Trinamool Congress chief wrote to the Prime Minister opposing the anti-terror body, claiming it would undermine the federal structure.
Mamata had opposed the NCTC claiming that it usurped the powers of states.
NCTC is Home Minister P Chidambaram's pet project, and comes into effect from the beginning of the next month. However, with the allies not willing, the government may have to go for further consultations, especially as Parliament meets for the Budget session in March, and the UPA would surely want to avoid a Lokpal-like impasse on the floor of the House.
Taking on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for describing the Park Street car rape as 'contrived,' Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra today said such statements were intended to scuttle the process of law from taking its own course. ''The chief minister is making such statements so that the law cannot take its own course,'' Mishra told newsmen. Even as investigation into the case was on, Banerjee had said on February 16 that the incident was fabricated and intended to malign her government. During a press conference on the same day, city Police Commissioner R K Pachnanda had said that there were inconsistencies in the victim's statement. A team of investigators, led by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Damayanti Sen, was, however, able to crack the case, arresting on Saturday night three youths who had reportedly confessed to the crime. ''After the chief minister's statement, the commissioner also washed his hands of the matter and spoke in line with the chief minister. If such statements are made, it will hamper the process of law that begins after a crime is committed,'' Mishra said. He claimed that no officer employed with the government, who has some self respect, wanted to remain in the state after the new government took over. The government had not been able to provide security to the victim and her two children, Mishra said. ''I think as a woman, the chief minister should have found out from the victim either herself or through a representative what actually happened,'' he said. Meanwhile, the South Kolkata District Congress organised a procession around Park Street protesting against the incident and the general deterioration of law and order in the city. Led by Congress councillor Mala Roy, the processionists demanded an apology from the chief minister for describing the incident as 'fabricated,' and resignation of the police commissioner for making statements about the victim even before the probe was completed.
However, a Kolkata Police woman officer,Damayanti Sen credited in the media with solving a case of an Anglo-Indian woman's gangrape early this month, on Monday scotched talks of a division within the police ranks and shared the honours with her team
"Several newspapers have been reporting that I have
been working on the case as an individual, going against my organisation. This is absolutely false. I have been successful only because of my team. This is not my individual success," said joint commissioner of police (Crime) Damayanti Sen.
Three suspects were arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping the 37-year-old in a moving car on February 6.
Sen, with joint commissioner of police (Headquarters) Jawed Shamim, rushed to the state secretariat Writers' Buildings on Monday to "clarify" her position to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
"The investigation is still on and we are yet to arrest more accused persons. But more than the probe, my personal life has become important for the media which I feel very disturbed about. I wanted to clarify this to the CM (Banerjee). So I came here, met her and clarified," Sen said.
A newspaper, while crediting her with solving the case, had described how she juggled between being a wife, a mother and an adept police officer.
Sen, who joined the Indian Police Service in 1996 and became the first woman officer to head the detective department of Kolkata Police, said she was "extremely disturbed" by media reports about her personal life.
"I have been working with my organisation since long and all my decisions have been collective. The case has nothing to do with me as an individual," said Sen, referring to reports on differences within police ranks.
She also said that media reports were hampering investigation into the case.
A controversy arose after police chief RK Pachnanda, while briefing the media on Thursday on the complaint of the rape victim, termed the entire issue as a campaign to malign police and the government.
Hours before Pachnanda's media meet, Banerjee described the matter as "cooked up" and said it was an attempt to malign the government.
Sen, who earlier claimed that there were some "technical discrepancies" in the victim's allegation, Friday said: "Something must have occurred in the early hours of Feb 6 and police are thoroughly investigating all aspects."
On Saturday, after police arrested three people in the case, Sen replied in the affirmative when asked whether the victim had been "raped".
Some newspapers and television channels claimed that Sen worked almost without a break for three days, with assistance from Shamim, to solve the case.
Shamim also said there was no groupism in police. "Let me tell you there is no such groupism. Kolkata Police work like a family and the decisions are taken collectively," he said.
The victim, a mother of two, had complained that she was raped at gunpoint on February 6 inside a moving car. She lodged the complaint on February 9.
The state, already feeling the pangs of an exodus of senior government officials, is set to receive another blow with joint commissioner of police (crime) Damayanti Sen applying to go on a central government deputation. Swati Sengupta reports for Times of India.
Sen, who has been lauded for leading the team that cracked the Park Street car rape case with unmatched aplomb, has already applied for a position. She now joins the club of joint commissioner (headquarters) Jawed Shamimand Special IG and DIG (Midnapore Range) Vineet Goyal, who are waiting to go on a central deputation.
Shamim and Sen have been with Kolkata Policefor many years now. Shamim, an IPS officer of the 1995 batch, was deputy commissioner (detective department ) before he took over as the Joint CP (headquarters). Sen, an officer of the 1996 batch, was deputy commissioner of the north division before she took over as the DC (DD).
The exact reason why Damayanti Sen, Jawed Shamim and Vineet Goyal have applied forcentral deputation is not known. But officers do apply for such posts from time to time and IPS officers before the rank of IG have to compulsorily go on central deputation. If they are not released by the state, then the state government needs to write to the Central government informing the authorities about it. It is however, relatively uncommon for officers in such key and challenging positions to apply for central posts.
What is particularly interesting is the fact that the Mamata Banerjee government has sent a strong message across that there is acute shortage of officers and hence the state is not keen on allowing any officer to leave the state. Not only that, the state government has especially requested the Union home ministry to release two IPS officers from West Bengal - Rajesh Kumar Yadav and Suman Bala Sahoo - from central deputation.
After receiving the applications, the Centre has sent letters to the state government asking for its opinion on the matter and asked the applications to be routed to them through the state government. DGP Naparajit Mukherjee is expected to give his opinion on the matter soon.
The situation is rather volatile in light of the Park Street rape case where Sen stood by the victim even as many others, including the chief minister, were suspicious about the complainant's statement. Whether the chief minister will allow Sen and the other officers to leave the state with all these factors taken together remains anyone's guess.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Sen-applies-for-central-deputation/articleshow/11957468.cms
Views | The madness of queen Mamata
Under her Chief Ministership, West Bengal is beginning to resemble a Wonderland of some deranged Alice
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The latest in the series of scandals that has been stalking Mamata Banerjee ever since she became chief minister is the alleged rape of a 37-year-old woman at gunpoint late at night in a moving car. Banerjee's first reaction was to say that it was all a Left Front plot to malign her government (in fact, almost everything bad that has happened during her rule has been a Left plot, according to her. More of that later.) Her transport minister, Madan Mitra, went even further. "She has two children and so far as I know she is separated from her husband," he told a TV channel, referring to the alleged rape victim. "What was she doing at a night club so late in the night?" This shameful remark should have been enough for him to get sacked, but nothing of the sort has happened.
If it was not tragic, one could find some irony in the fact that in 1993, Banerjee had staged a dharna in front of the chief minister's chamber in Writers' Building, the seat of the state government, with a hearing and speech-impaired girl, who had been raped and was pregnant. She was violently thrown out, and vowed never to enter Writers' Building again, as long as the Left was in power. She kept her promise, returning only when she became chief minister, 18 years later.
Does Mamata remember? One does not know, because her behaviour as CM has ranged from sheer paranoia to the undoubtedly bizarre. At the Kolkata Book Fair, recently, quite out of the blue, she compared books to wives ("gharer bou"), saying that neither should be lent out since they will be used before they are returned.
Harried by news of newborns dying in state hospitals—the number has crossed 50 in the last eight months—she came up with two priceless responses. One, that the baby death reports were rumours. And two—and this sounds so downright demented that I find it hard to believe she actually said this—that the babies were conceived during the Left Front rule.
When farmers commit suicide, Mamata Banerjee is clear that one, it's not due to indebtedness, and two, even if there is any economic reason behind the suicides, Left Front policies are to blame. She has always blamed the Maoists for derailing the Gyaneshwari Express in 2010, leading to 149 deaths. But on Sunday, she suddenly decided that it was the CPI(M) which had been responsible, just to discredit her—she was then Union railways minister.
The Left Front, in its three-and-a-half decades of misrule, ruined West Bengal's economy, ran an extortion Raj all over the state, and ruthlessly used cadre violence to intimidate political opposition. It will be years before the state can shake off the effects of the Front's incredibly callous misrule. But blaming the Left for everything from mass murder to poor weather is not going to help.
The state needs investments. A video of Banerjee addressing industrialists and potential investors has become widely popular on YouTube and generated more belly-laughs than any three-hour Seinfeld marathon. She hunts down industrialists in the audience: "Mr Agarwal? Where is Mr Agarwal?" Mr Agarwal stands up, grinning obsequiously, embarrassed beyond words. "So, is your project happening?" Mr Agarwal, all thirty-two teeth on pathetic display, nods. "Good, good," says the chief minister. "Are my friends from Japan here?" Camera focuses on an unfortunate Japanese diplomat, face trying to register disbelief, politeness and a silent prayer for the earth to open up beneath his feet, all at the same time. "Will you invest?" in a hectoring tone. Yes, yes, the poor Nipponese nods vigorously. I'd give a thousand bucks to know the thoughts going on in the man's head at that point. "My friends from China, where are they?" she squints into the audience. The friends from China have been smart, they've given the occasion a miss.
Meanwhile, Rabindrasangeet plays at traffic lights. All schools were closed for two days—yes, not one, but two—to celebrate Tagore's death anniversary. The innocent water tanks in Kolkata's upper-middle-class Salt Lake—bus stops are named after the tanks, which have been used by residents for the last 40 years as landmarks to guide visitors—have all been rechristened: they are now Rabindranath tank, Khudiram Bose tank, Uttam Kumar tank, and so on. And last week, scaling some new height of pure unhinged-ness, Banerjee decreed that Kolkata's flyovers, park railings and official buildings should all be painted blue.
AFP reports: "Party insiders said blue was the favourite colour of the chief minister…and was also suggested in a new slogan for her government…'The sky is the limit'…Some police stations in Kolkata's suburbs, painted red since the days of the British Raj, have already received a fresh blue coat, while traffic signals, street signs and even streetside tree trunks are also in line for a makeover…City authorities are also planning to give tax breaks to private property owners who volunteer to embrace the new colour code... public vehicles including the city's fleet of 35,000 yellow taxis would also be part of the new colour scheme. 'We have plans to get private buses and taxis in the city painted in blue with a white border,' Mr (Madan) Mitra, (West Bengal transport minister) said." Yes, that's the same man who thinks women who have had a bad marriage and two children should not be visiting night clubs.
Does the word "phantasmagoric" come to mind? Any budding magic realist author looking for some subversive inspiration should immediately move to Kolkata. It's all happening there!
http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/20135703/Views--The-madness-of-queen-M.html?h=A1
CPM the opposition on Sunday managed to do something that CPM the party in power could not do in decades. It left everyone guessing the strength of the crowd the party managed to pull at Brigade grounds. While party leaders on the dais kept criticizing the chief minister and her government, those seated in front of them and the sea of people behind them kept playing the number game. None could zero in on the exact figure, but "close to 10 lakh" seemed to be the final consensus.Times of India Reports:
Even former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could not suppress his excitement with the response the rally received on Sunday. "There have been numerous rallies at the Brigade while we were in power. But this one has surpassed them all," he exclaimed. Bhattacharjee's reaction could be corroborated by the fact that CPM's Brigade rally - the first since April 22, 1977, when not in power - drew more people than those in recent years when government buses were deployed to ferry its supporters.
No wonder then, when senior leaders were almost mobbed, they soaked in the adulation with smiles and the traditional fisted salute. The turnout even prompted all speakers - party general secretary Prakash Karat, state secretary Biman Bose, Bhattacharjee and opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra - to stress in unison that it was impossible to wipe out the red flag from Bengal, despite the recent poll reverses.
If the scene on the Parade grounds was that of exultation, the same cannot be said for the central Kolkata roads. The meeting, which was managed with clock-work precision from 1:20 to 3pm, left the commuters red-faced. All major arterial roads leading to the Brigade remained clogged for hours till the anointed start of the meeting, to recede for a while and then remain inaccessible to normal motorists again in the later evening.
The only difference this time, however, was that state buses were seen stranded on roads. During CPM regime, they were spotted parked around the ground, waiting to carry the supporters back home.
On Sunday, people walked, plied on matadors, SUVs and private buses top reach the venue since early morning. The roads - some even manned by CPM volunteers with cops in tow - remained off-bounds for commuters. Roads leading to Howrah and Sealdah remained clogged. Police had to divert some traffic to the arterial roads to ease the load, but that wasn't enough.
In Kona Expressway, a private bus carrying party cadres to the Brigade was hit by another, seriously injuring 12 people. The bus was packed with 60 people from Burdwan's Jamalpur. Police said the injured were moved to the Howrah district hospital and the condition of five is stated to be critical. CPM's Hooghly district secretary Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury alleged Trinamool supporters attacked CPM partymen heading for the rally. He even alleged that Hooghly zilla parishad chairperson Pradip Saha was attacked when he was bringing brick-kiln workers to Kolkata.
CPM state secretary Biman Bose said party workers heading for the rally were attacked by Trinamool supporters in Hooghly's Pandua. He even showed a letter written in an INTTUC unit letter head which reportedly asked partymen (read Trinamool) to stop CPM supporters from attending the meeting
.Mishra chipped in, saying a bus carrying party supporters was attacked in Beliaghata which left six persons injured. They had to be hospitalized, he added. "I hope she is watching television on today. Else, it is difficult to get to her and inform her on such issues," Mishra snapped.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/CPM-rallies-Kolkata-chokes/articleshow/11955716.cms
KOLKATA: She could be an inspiration for all the women who blame and curse themselves for being raped, who live a lifetime of trauma and cannot face the world again. The woman who was picked up from Park Street, raped in a car and dumped on Rabindra Sadan is shaken no doubt, but she still has the courage you may never have seen before.
She is glad her daughters will now be able to start going to school again after missing classes since the incident took place. Though she broke down several times at her south Kolkata residence on Sunday after seeing the photographs of the arrested, she brushed away her tears and put up a brave front all over again.
Like a normal household where lunch is being eaten very late, there are brothers, sisters, friends, aunts and children in the house. A Spitz looks with awe at the sudden coming and going of so many people. But beyond that, the residents look very relieved that perhaps their worst nightmare is over, and they don't need to plead people to believe them over and over again.
"I have to thank (joint commissioner, crime) Damayanti Sen for her support, she is a tigress," the woman says, breaking into a smile. But the trauma returns to haunt her as she recalls the episode at Park Street police station when she, prodded by her aunt, had gone to get a copy of the FIR, which was not initially given to her.
Two officers were talking between themselves, as the woman and her aunt sat before them. "Chalo, nightclub chalte hai, daaro-varoo peete hai," one officer told the other, recalled the woman. When the other officer said he was not keen on going, he allegedly said: "issi liye to tumhara koi girlfriend nahi hai, chalo phir beer hi pi lete hai". She recalled the episode, saying she very well understood the sarcasm in it, because "that night I had had only beer and they were hinting at that."
The good thing is the immense support of her family and even her two daughters, aged 15 and 13. "Initially I did not want to go and file the complaint. But my whole family supported me and asked me to go to police," she recalled. "For me, the only thing that mattered was that my family and my daughters know the truth. They knew when I came back and they gave me first aid."
But they convinced her finally to go to the police station. "Had the case not been taken up by Lalbazar, I don't know what would have happened," she said. "But Damayanti Sen believed me from the very first day. I broke down in her office, and she not only investigated the case, she also consoled me."
She is hurt about the comments made by chief minister Mamata Banerjee about the fact that her complaint was a "fabricated story". "We are just common people who live our lives and follow government rules. How are we in a position to malign the government? And why should we?" she asked.
But beyond that she wouldn't say anything else. "I don't want to get into any controversy over the chief minister's comments. All I can say is that I am hurt."
The woman said that if the rape was shocking, what followed was even more gruesome. "All kinds of things were being said about me, there was mention of escort service and so on. As if it lay on me to prove that I am neither a sex worker nor working in escort service. Also, does it mean sex workers or those in escort service can be raped? If someone's father has charges against him, then the daughter can be raped?"
Those questions, it is hoped, may be answered by those who raised them in the first place.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/I-thank-Damayanti-Sen-shes-a-tigress-Victim/articleshow/11955660.cms
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Howrah: Charging the CPI(M) with lying to the people of West Bengal throughout the 35 years of Left Front rule, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said that such a political party should not exist.
"Such a political party should not exist. Throughout the Left Front rule of 35 years, it had lied to the people. During its rule, it has looted farmers, the future of unemployed youth and even the Nobel (medallion of Rabindranath Tagore)," Banerjee said while flagging off trains in presence of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi at the Howrah station.
In an indirect reference to the CPI(M) rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds earlier in the day where party leaders called for making a comeback, she said, "they (CPI(M)) are talking of a comeback. They will never come back. The sooner they go, the sooner the people will feel relieved."![]()
Without naming the CPI(M), she said in the same breath, "the Gyaneswari Express mishap was engineered and many people were killed. These are dangerous people."
Banerjee, who inaugurated six new express and passenger trains and formally announced introduction of nine express, passenger and local trains, said that with this, her budget assurance for 2011-12 has been fulfilled.
"Many have said that the budget promises are a hoax. I tell them, all the promises have been fulfilled. To them, I say, talk after 35 years," she said.
Accusing the erstwhile CPI(M)-led Left Front government of leaving a debt burden of over Rs 2 lakh crore on her government, Banerjee said that for every rupee earned, 94 paise was spent on paying interest and salaries and only 6 paise was left for development work.
"But where there is a will, there is a way. I have, for example, assured that teachers are paid their salaries on the first of every month through banks. Earlier, no one knew where the money went. There was no accountability and no audit," the chief Minister said.
Stating that the new terminal building of the NSC Bose International Airport would be completed by March and handed over in April, she said that the state government had received a number of Expressions of Interest on helicopter and light aircraft services to connect Haldia, Sunderbans, Darjeeling, Bolpur and Durgapur.
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi stressed the importance of ensuring safety in the railways and said that the common man must also be more alert in helping the railways maintain safety.
Trivedi said he was personally monitoring the progress of work for the metro railway extension projects in the state.
"Once the manufacturing units like Kanchrapara and Kulti come up in the next five or six years, a new Bengal will emerge," he said.
PTI
http://www.anandabazar.com/index.html
http://www.anandabazar.com/20cal3.html
http://www.anandabazar.com/20cal2.html
http://www.anandabazar.com/20raj3.html
http://www.anandabazar.com/20raj4.html
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120220/jsp/frontpage/story_15156577.jsp
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120220/jsp/frontpage/story_15156578.jsp
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - EIGHT Hundred FIVE
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
http://basantipurtimes.blogspot.com/
Kolkata's Park Street rape case: 10 big facts
NDTV - 6 hours agoKolkata: Mamata Banerjee has been caught in a controversy of her own making in West Bengal over a rape that left Kolkata cold. The city is usually considered safe for women, especially when compared to other metros like Delhi or Mumbai.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/kolkatas-park-street-rape-case-10-big-facts-177930
Videos![]()
IBNLive - 5 hours ago
NewsX - 8 hours ago
IBNLive - 12 hours ago
IBNLive - 22 hours ago
Asian News International (ANI) - Feb 19, 2012
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Livemint opines so!We dare not consider the arguement at all! But the whimsical administrative style of Mamata has made things worse than earlier, it must be admitted. She is the head of the Government! How she denies the responsiblity in every matter whatsoever? Let it be childrens` death, farmers`s suicide, economic Crisis and simply day to day law and order problem. More amazing is the attitude of Bengali Intelligentsia which defends everything Mamata says! The media and intelligentsia do not Favour Mamata as it seems. This illogical defence of erring Chief Minister would make the Most populist CM most Unpopular very soon. The Brigade Rally last day showcases the wall writing and it may not be covered up with any Blue Paint! The ParcK Circus Rape case turns very ridiculous at the cost of the Victim as well as an efficient IAS officer DAMAYANTI Sen. Who acted like a Tigress to prove Mamata wrong and is said to be Delhi Bound very soon.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bnaerjee is meeting top police officials in Kolkata to discuss Park Street rape case. Mamata had earlier claimed that the incident was a "fabricated story" intended to malign her government.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, Feb 20 is meeting the top police officials to discuss the Park Street rape case.
Mamata is meeting City Police Commissioner Damayanti Sen.
The opposition party, CPM had cristicised Mamata over her comments on the rape case. She had earlier dismissed the case calling it a fabricated story intended to harm her government.
Meanwhile the Left, Congress have demanded an apology from Mamata.
On Feb 5, 2012, the 37-year-old woman was allegedly raped at gunpoint after five men offered her lift outside a night club at Park Street.
| ধর্ষণ-কাণ্ড: মহাকরণে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে জরুরি বৈঠক |
| পার্ক স্ট্রিটে ধর্ষণ কাণ্ডের বিষয় নিয়ে মহাকরণে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে পুলিশ কর্তাদের বৈঠক। সেখানে উপস্থিত ছিলেন পুলিশ কমিশনার রঞ্জিত কুমার পচনন্দা, বিশেষ কমিশনার শিবাজি ঘোষ, যুগ্ম কমিশনার (সদর) জাভেদ শামিম ও যুগ্ম কমিশনার (অপরাধ) দময়ন্তী সেন। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে বৈঠক শেষে সাংবাদিকদের মুখোমুখি হলেন কলকাতা পুলিশের যুগ্ম কমিশনার (সদর) জাভেদ শামিম ও গোয়েন্দা প্রধান দময়ন্তী সেন। জাভেদ শামিম জানান, সাম্প্রতিক একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ঘটনার প্রেক্ষিতে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সাক্ষাৎ চেয়েছিলেন তাঁরা, পুলিশ কমিশনার রঞ্জিতকুমার পচনন্দার মাধ্যমে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী সময় দেওয়ায় তাঁর সঙ্গে জরুরি বৈঠকে বসেন কলকাতা পুলিশের উচ্চ পদস্থ কর্তারা। সেখানে পার্ক স্ট্রিটের ঘটনাটি নিয়ে বিস্তারিত আলোচনা হয়। এর পরেই যুগ্ম কমিশনার জানান, কলকাতা পুলিশ তার ঐতিহ্য মেনেই একটি 'টিম' হিসেবে কাজ করে। কোনও ব্যক্তির ভূমিকা বা কোনও গোষ্ঠীকে বড় করে দেখানোর ব্যাপার নেই এবং এখানে একা কেউ কোনও সিদ্ধান্ত নেন না। তদন্ত নিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী কোনও মন্তব্য করেননি বলে জানিয়েছেন যুগ্ম কমিশনার। এর পরেই সামনে আসেন দময়ন্তী সেন। কার্যত পার্ক স্ট্রিটের ওই ঘটনা নতুন দিকে মোড় নেওয়ার পর সংবাদমাধ্যমের ভূমিকায় বিরক্তি প্রকাশ করেন তিনি। পার্ক স্ট্রিটে ধর্ষণ কাণ্ডের কিনারা করতে তাঁর 'সদর্থক' ভূমিকা নিয়ে সংবাদমাধ্যমে প্রকাশিত খবরের পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে গোয়েন্দাপ্রধান স্পষ্টত জানিয়ে দেন, ব্যক্তিগত ভাবে তিনি কিছু করেননি। কলকাতা পুলিশের কর্মী হিসেবে কাজ করেছেন। তদন্ত এখনও শেষ হয়নি। কাজেই সংবাদমাধ্যমে এই ধরনের সংবাদে তদন্ত ব্যহত হচ্ছে। মূলত এই বিষয়েই কথা বলতে তাঁরা মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে দেখা করতে চেয়েছিলেন বলে জানিয়েছেন গোয়েন্দাপ্রধান। দময়ন্তী সেন আরও বলেন, ''আমি এক জন পেশাদার পুলিশ কর্মী, সেখানে ব্যক্তির কোনও ভূমিকা নেই। ভাল বা মন্দ সবটাই 'টিম'-এর কৃতিত্ব। আমরা একযোগে কাজ করে থাকি।'' |
Police cracked the case after they studied the CCTV footage of the parking lot of the hotel.
On Sunday, the Kolkata police arrested the 3 accused, who were involved in the case.
Explaining her story, the victim said that her family supported her to come with out the truth. "To bring out the story I had to speak a thousand times, but I didn't care as long as the truth came out. I was so defenseless. But today I see the support for me. We need to talk about it. We must talk about this, it's important. There are a lot of animals out there," she said.
And added, "I never wanted to go to the police or talk about it. I wanted to bury it in my heart. But my daughters, my family explained to me. I am so angry. I am not ashamed, I am angry that they can do this and get away with this. But I am glad they now know they can't."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to demand financial package for the state. Mamata has been demanding a package from the Centre claiming she inherited a treasury which was in shambles from the previous left-ruled government. The National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) matter may also be discussed. This meeting comes barely days after the Trinamool Congress chief wrote to the Prime Minister opposing the anti-terror body, claiming it would undermine the federal structure.
Mamata had opposed the NCTC claiming that it usurped the powers of states.
NCTC is Home Minister P Chidambaram's pet project, and comes into effect from the beginning of the next month. However, with the allies not willing, the government may have to go for further consultations, especially as Parliament meets for the Budget session in March, and the UPA would surely want to avoid a Lokpal-like impasse on the floor of the House.
Taking on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for describing the Park Street car rape as 'contrived,' Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra today said such statements were intended to scuttle the process of law from taking its own course. ''The chief minister is making such statements so that the law cannot take its own course,'' Mishra told newsmen. Even as investigation into the case was on, Banerjee had said on February 16 that the incident was fabricated and intended to malign her government. During a press conference on the same day, city Police Commissioner R K Pachnanda had said that there were inconsistencies in the victim's statement. A team of investigators, led by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Damayanti Sen, was, however, able to crack the case, arresting on Saturday night three youths who had reportedly confessed to the crime. ''After the chief minister's statement, the commissioner also washed his hands of the matter and spoke in line with the chief minister. If such statements are made, it will hamper the process of law that begins after a crime is committed,'' Mishra said. He claimed that no officer employed with the government, who has some self respect, wanted to remain in the state after the new government took over. The government had not been able to provide security to the victim and her two children, Mishra said. ''I think as a woman, the chief minister should have found out from the victim either herself or through a representative what actually happened,'' he said. Meanwhile, the South Kolkata District Congress organised a procession around Park Street protesting against the incident and the general deterioration of law and order in the city. Led by Congress councillor Mala Roy, the processionists demanded an apology from the chief minister for describing the incident as 'fabricated,' and resignation of the police commissioner for making statements about the victim even before the probe was completed.
However, a Kolkata Police woman officer,Damayanti Sen credited in the media with solving a case of an Anglo-Indian woman's gangrape early this month, on Monday scotched talks of a division within the police ranks and shared the honours with her team
"Several newspapers have been reporting that I have
been working on the case as an individual, going against my organisation. This is absolutely false. I have been successful only because of my team. This is not my individual success," said joint commissioner of police (Crime) Damayanti Sen.
Three suspects were arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping the 37-year-old in a moving car on February 6.
Sen, with joint commissioner of police (Headquarters) Jawed Shamim, rushed to the state secretariat Writers' Buildings on Monday to "clarify" her position to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
"The investigation is still on and we are yet to arrest more accused persons. But more than the probe, my personal life has become important for the media which I feel very disturbed about. I wanted to clarify this to the CM (Banerjee). So I came here, met her and clarified," Sen said.
A newspaper, while crediting her with solving the case, had described how she juggled between being a wife, a mother and an adept police officer.
Sen, who joined the Indian Police Service in 1996 and became the first woman officer to head the detective department of Kolkata Police, said she was "extremely disturbed" by media reports about her personal life.
"I have been working with my organisation since long and all my decisions have been collective. The case has nothing to do with me as an individual," said Sen, referring to reports on differences within police ranks.
She also said that media reports were hampering investigation into the case.
A controversy arose after police chief RK Pachnanda, while briefing the media on Thursday on the complaint of the rape victim, termed the entire issue as a campaign to malign police and the government.
Hours before Pachnanda's media meet, Banerjee described the matter as "cooked up" and said it was an attempt to malign the government.
Sen, who earlier claimed that there were some "technical discrepancies" in the victim's allegation, Friday said: "Something must have occurred in the early hours of Feb 6 and police are thoroughly investigating all aspects."
On Saturday, after police arrested three people in the case, Sen replied in the affirmative when asked whether the victim had been "raped".
Some newspapers and television channels claimed that Sen worked almost without a break for three days, with assistance from Shamim, to solve the case.
Shamim also said there was no groupism in police. "Let me tell you there is no such groupism. Kolkata Police work like a family and the decisions are taken collectively," he said.
The victim, a mother of two, had complained that she was raped at gunpoint on February 6 inside a moving car. She lodged the complaint on February 9.
The state, already feeling the pangs of an exodus of senior government officials, is set to receive another blow with joint commissioner of police (crime) Damayanti Sen applying to go on a central government deputation. Swati Sengupta reports for Times of India.
Sen, who has been lauded for leading the team that cracked the Park Street car rape case with unmatched aplomb, has already applied for a position. She now joins the club of joint commissioner (headquarters) Jawed Shamimand Special IG and DIG (Midnapore Range) Vineet Goyal, who are waiting to go on a central deputation.
Shamim and Sen have been with Kolkata Policefor many years now. Shamim, an IPS officer of the 1995 batch, was deputy commissioner (detective department ) before he took over as the Joint CP (headquarters). Sen, an officer of the 1996 batch, was deputy commissioner of the north division before she took over as the DC (DD).
The exact reason why Damayanti Sen, Jawed Shamim and Vineet Goyal have applied forcentral deputation is not known. But officers do apply for such posts from time to time and IPS officers before the rank of IG have to compulsorily go on central deputation. If they are not released by the state, then the state government needs to write to the Central government informing the authorities about it. It is however, relatively uncommon for officers in such key and challenging positions to apply for central posts.
What is particularly interesting is the fact that the Mamata Banerjee government has sent a strong message across that there is acute shortage of officers and hence the state is not keen on allowing any officer to leave the state. Not only that, the state government has especially requested the Union home ministry to release two IPS officers from West Bengal - Rajesh Kumar Yadav and Suman Bala Sahoo - from central deputation.
After receiving the applications, the Centre has sent letters to the state government asking for its opinion on the matter and asked the applications to be routed to them through the state government. DGP Naparajit Mukherjee is expected to give his opinion on the matter soon.
The situation is rather volatile in light of the Park Street rape case where Sen stood by the victim even as many others, including the chief minister, were suspicious about the complainant's statement. Whether the chief minister will allow Sen and the other officers to leave the state with all these factors taken together remains anyone's guess.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Sen-applies-for-central-deputation/articleshow/11957468.cms
Views | The madness of queen Mamata
Under her Chief Ministership, West Bengal is beginning to resemble a Wonderland of some deranged Alice
Sandipan Deb
If the people of West Bengal wanted change after 34 years of Left Front reign, they've certainly got it. The question is: Is this the change they wanted? Or even imagined in their wildest dreams?The latest in the series of scandals that has been stalking Mamata Banerjee ever since she became chief minister is the alleged rape of a 37-year-old woman at gunpoint late at night in a moving car. Banerjee's first reaction was to say that it was all a Left Front plot to malign her government (in fact, almost everything bad that has happened during her rule has been a Left plot, according to her. More of that later.) Her transport minister, Madan Mitra, went even further. "She has two children and so far as I know she is separated from her husband," he told a TV channel, referring to the alleged rape victim. "What was she doing at a night club so late in the night?" This shameful remark should have been enough for him to get sacked, but nothing of the sort has happened.
If it was not tragic, one could find some irony in the fact that in 1993, Banerjee had staged a dharna in front of the chief minister's chamber in Writers' Building, the seat of the state government, with a hearing and speech-impaired girl, who had been raped and was pregnant. She was violently thrown out, and vowed never to enter Writers' Building again, as long as the Left was in power. She kept her promise, returning only when she became chief minister, 18 years later.
Does Mamata remember? One does not know, because her behaviour as CM has ranged from sheer paranoia to the undoubtedly bizarre. At the Kolkata Book Fair, recently, quite out of the blue, she compared books to wives ("gharer bou"), saying that neither should be lent out since they will be used before they are returned.
Harried by news of newborns dying in state hospitals—the number has crossed 50 in the last eight months—she came up with two priceless responses. One, that the baby death reports were rumours. And two—and this sounds so downright demented that I find it hard to believe she actually said this—that the babies were conceived during the Left Front rule.
When farmers commit suicide, Mamata Banerjee is clear that one, it's not due to indebtedness, and two, even if there is any economic reason behind the suicides, Left Front policies are to blame. She has always blamed the Maoists for derailing the Gyaneshwari Express in 2010, leading to 149 deaths. But on Sunday, she suddenly decided that it was the CPI(M) which had been responsible, just to discredit her—she was then Union railways minister.
The Left Front, in its three-and-a-half decades of misrule, ruined West Bengal's economy, ran an extortion Raj all over the state, and ruthlessly used cadre violence to intimidate political opposition. It will be years before the state can shake off the effects of the Front's incredibly callous misrule. But blaming the Left for everything from mass murder to poor weather is not going to help.
The state needs investments. A video of Banerjee addressing industrialists and potential investors has become widely popular on YouTube and generated more belly-laughs than any three-hour Seinfeld marathon. She hunts down industrialists in the audience: "Mr Agarwal? Where is Mr Agarwal?" Mr Agarwal stands up, grinning obsequiously, embarrassed beyond words. "So, is your project happening?" Mr Agarwal, all thirty-two teeth on pathetic display, nods. "Good, good," says the chief minister. "Are my friends from Japan here?" Camera focuses on an unfortunate Japanese diplomat, face trying to register disbelief, politeness and a silent prayer for the earth to open up beneath his feet, all at the same time. "Will you invest?" in a hectoring tone. Yes, yes, the poor Nipponese nods vigorously. I'd give a thousand bucks to know the thoughts going on in the man's head at that point. "My friends from China, where are they?" she squints into the audience. The friends from China have been smart, they've given the occasion a miss.
Meanwhile, Rabindrasangeet plays at traffic lights. All schools were closed for two days—yes, not one, but two—to celebrate Tagore's death anniversary. The innocent water tanks in Kolkata's upper-middle-class Salt Lake—bus stops are named after the tanks, which have been used by residents for the last 40 years as landmarks to guide visitors—have all been rechristened: they are now Rabindranath tank, Khudiram Bose tank, Uttam Kumar tank, and so on. And last week, scaling some new height of pure unhinged-ness, Banerjee decreed that Kolkata's flyovers, park railings and official buildings should all be painted blue.
AFP reports: "Party insiders said blue was the favourite colour of the chief minister…and was also suggested in a new slogan for her government…'The sky is the limit'…Some police stations in Kolkata's suburbs, painted red since the days of the British Raj, have already received a fresh blue coat, while traffic signals, street signs and even streetside tree trunks are also in line for a makeover…City authorities are also planning to give tax breaks to private property owners who volunteer to embrace the new colour code... public vehicles including the city's fleet of 35,000 yellow taxis would also be part of the new colour scheme. 'We have plans to get private buses and taxis in the city painted in blue with a white border,' Mr (Madan) Mitra, (West Bengal transport minister) said." Yes, that's the same man who thinks women who have had a bad marriage and two children should not be visiting night clubs.
Does the word "phantasmagoric" come to mind? Any budding magic realist author looking for some subversive inspiration should immediately move to Kolkata. It's all happening there!
http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/20135703/Views--The-madness-of-queen-M.html?h=A1
CPM the opposition on Sunday managed to do something that CPM the party in power could not do in decades. It left everyone guessing the strength of the crowd the party managed to pull at Brigade grounds. While party leaders on the dais kept criticizing the chief minister and her government, those seated in front of them and the sea of people behind them kept playing the number game. None could zero in on the exact figure, but "close to 10 lakh" seemed to be the final consensus.Times of India Reports:
Even former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could not suppress his excitement with the response the rally received on Sunday. "There have been numerous rallies at the Brigade while we were in power. But this one has surpassed them all," he exclaimed. Bhattacharjee's reaction could be corroborated by the fact that CPM's Brigade rally - the first since April 22, 1977, when not in power - drew more people than those in recent years when government buses were deployed to ferry its supporters.
No wonder then, when senior leaders were almost mobbed, they soaked in the adulation with smiles and the traditional fisted salute. The turnout even prompted all speakers - party general secretary Prakash Karat, state secretary Biman Bose, Bhattacharjee and opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra - to stress in unison that it was impossible to wipe out the red flag from Bengal, despite the recent poll reverses.
If the scene on the Parade grounds was that of exultation, the same cannot be said for the central Kolkata roads. The meeting, which was managed with clock-work precision from 1:20 to 3pm, left the commuters red-faced. All major arterial roads leading to the Brigade remained clogged for hours till the anointed start of the meeting, to recede for a while and then remain inaccessible to normal motorists again in the later evening.
The only difference this time, however, was that state buses were seen stranded on roads. During CPM regime, they were spotted parked around the ground, waiting to carry the supporters back home.
On Sunday, people walked, plied on matadors, SUVs and private buses top reach the venue since early morning. The roads - some even manned by CPM volunteers with cops in tow - remained off-bounds for commuters. Roads leading to Howrah and Sealdah remained clogged. Police had to divert some traffic to the arterial roads to ease the load, but that wasn't enough.
In Kona Expressway, a private bus carrying party cadres to the Brigade was hit by another, seriously injuring 12 people. The bus was packed with 60 people from Burdwan's Jamalpur. Police said the injured were moved to the Howrah district hospital and the condition of five is stated to be critical. CPM's Hooghly district secretary Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury alleged Trinamool supporters attacked CPM partymen heading for the rally. He even alleged that Hooghly zilla parishad chairperson Pradip Saha was attacked when he was bringing brick-kiln workers to Kolkata.
CPM state secretary Biman Bose said party workers heading for the rally were attacked by Trinamool supporters in Hooghly's Pandua. He even showed a letter written in an INTTUC unit letter head which reportedly asked partymen (read Trinamool) to stop CPM supporters from attending the meeting
.Mishra chipped in, saying a bus carrying party supporters was attacked in Beliaghata which left six persons injured. They had to be hospitalized, he added. "I hope she is watching television on today. Else, it is difficult to get to her and inform her on such issues," Mishra snapped.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/CPM-rallies-Kolkata-chokes/articleshow/11955716.cms
I thank Damayanti Sen, she's a tigress: Victim
Swati Sengupta, TNN | Feb 20, 2012, 01.47AM ISTKOLKATA: She could be an inspiration for all the women who blame and curse themselves for being raped, who live a lifetime of trauma and cannot face the world again. The woman who was picked up from Park Street, raped in a car and dumped on Rabindra Sadan is shaken no doubt, but she still has the courage you may never have seen before.
She is glad her daughters will now be able to start going to school again after missing classes since the incident took place. Though she broke down several times at her south Kolkata residence on Sunday after seeing the photographs of the arrested, she brushed away her tears and put up a brave front all over again.
Like a normal household where lunch is being eaten very late, there are brothers, sisters, friends, aunts and children in the house. A Spitz looks with awe at the sudden coming and going of so many people. But beyond that, the residents look very relieved that perhaps their worst nightmare is over, and they don't need to plead people to believe them over and over again.
"I have to thank (joint commissioner, crime) Damayanti Sen for her support, she is a tigress," the woman says, breaking into a smile. But the trauma returns to haunt her as she recalls the episode at Park Street police station when she, prodded by her aunt, had gone to get a copy of the FIR, which was not initially given to her.
Two officers were talking between themselves, as the woman and her aunt sat before them. "Chalo, nightclub chalte hai, daaro-varoo peete hai," one officer told the other, recalled the woman. When the other officer said he was not keen on going, he allegedly said: "issi liye to tumhara koi girlfriend nahi hai, chalo phir beer hi pi lete hai". She recalled the episode, saying she very well understood the sarcasm in it, because "that night I had had only beer and they were hinting at that."
The good thing is the immense support of her family and even her two daughters, aged 15 and 13. "Initially I did not want to go and file the complaint. But my whole family supported me and asked me to go to police," she recalled. "For me, the only thing that mattered was that my family and my daughters know the truth. They knew when I came back and they gave me first aid."
But they convinced her finally to go to the police station. "Had the case not been taken up by Lalbazar, I don't know what would have happened," she said. "But Damayanti Sen believed me from the very first day. I broke down in her office, and she not only investigated the case, she also consoled me."
She is hurt about the comments made by chief minister Mamata Banerjee about the fact that her complaint was a "fabricated story". "We are just common people who live our lives and follow government rules. How are we in a position to malign the government? And why should we?" she asked.
But beyond that she wouldn't say anything else. "I don't want to get into any controversy over the chief minister's comments. All I can say is that I am hurt."
The woman said that if the rape was shocking, what followed was even more gruesome. "All kinds of things were being said about me, there was mention of escort service and so on. As if it lay on me to prove that I am neither a sex worker nor working in escort service. Also, does it mean sex workers or those in escort service can be raped? If someone's father has charges against him, then the daughter can be raped?"
Those questions, it is hoped, may be answered by those who raised them in the first place.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/I-thank-Damayanti-Sen-shes-a-tigress-Victim/articleshow/11955660.cms
Mamata Banerjee calls CPI (M) 'liars' and 'looters'
Feb 20, 2012Follow @firstpostin
Howrah: Charging the CPI(M) with lying to the people of West Bengal throughout the 35 years of Left Front rule, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said that such a political party should not exist.
"Such a political party should not exist. Throughout the Left Front rule of 35 years, it had lied to the people. During its rule, it has looted farmers, the future of unemployed youth and even the Nobel (medallion of Rabindranath Tagore)," Banerjee said while flagging off trains in presence of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi at the Howrah station.
In an indirect reference to the CPI(M) rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds earlier in the day where party leaders called for making a comeback, she said, "they (CPI(M)) are talking of a comeback. They will never come back. The sooner they go, the sooner the people will feel relieved."
Reuters
She alleged that during her tenure as Railway Minister, the CPI(M) had sent some television channels to find fault with the Railways. "So every day, you would find news that a rat or a cockroach had been sighted in some compartment."Without naming the CPI(M), she said in the same breath, "the Gyaneswari Express mishap was engineered and many people were killed. These are dangerous people."
Banerjee, who inaugurated six new express and passenger trains and formally announced introduction of nine express, passenger and local trains, said that with this, her budget assurance for 2011-12 has been fulfilled.
"Many have said that the budget promises are a hoax. I tell them, all the promises have been fulfilled. To them, I say, talk after 35 years," she said.
Accusing the erstwhile CPI(M)-led Left Front government of leaving a debt burden of over Rs 2 lakh crore on her government, Banerjee said that for every rupee earned, 94 paise was spent on paying interest and salaries and only 6 paise was left for development work.
"But where there is a will, there is a way. I have, for example, assured that teachers are paid their salaries on the first of every month through banks. Earlier, no one knew where the money went. There was no accountability and no audit," the chief Minister said.
Stating that the new terminal building of the NSC Bose International Airport would be completed by March and handed over in April, she said that the state government had received a number of Expressions of Interest on helicopter and light aircraft services to connect Haldia, Sunderbans, Darjeeling, Bolpur and Durgapur.
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi stressed the importance of ensuring safety in the railways and said that the common man must also be more alert in helping the railways maintain safety.
Trivedi said he was personally monitoring the progress of work for the metro railway extension projects in the state.
"Once the manufacturing units like Kanchrapara and Kulti come up in the next five or six years, a new Bengal will emerge," he said.
PTI
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| খাওয়া-ঘুম নেই, এখনও কাটেনি আতঙ্ক |
| নিজস্ব সংবাদদাতা |
| সত্যিটা সামনে এসেছে ঠিকই। 'নৈতিক জয়'ও হয়েছে। কিন্তু মানসিক বিপর্যয় এখনও কাটেনি। রাতে ওষুধ খেয়েও ভাল ঘুম হয়নি। দুই মেয়েকে নিয়ে আতঙ্কে কুঁকড়ে রয়েছেন পার্ক স্ট্রিট-কাণ্ডের অভিযোগকারিণী। রবিবার সকালেও টিভিতে অপরাধীদের চেহারা দেখে ডুকরে কেঁদে উঠেছেন। যখনই একা থাকছেন ভয়ে সিঁটিয়ে শুয়ে থাকছেন। মাথার কাছে বসে মাকে ভরসা জোগাচ্ছে বছর চোদ্দোর বড় মেয়ে। ঠিকমতো খাওয়া দাওয়া করছেন? মহিলা বলেন, "খাওয়াদাওয়া করা এখনও আমার পক্ষে সম্ভব নয়। শ্বাসের একটা কষ্ট হচ্ছে। মাঝে মাঝে বুকে ব্যথাও করছে। সারা দিন মেয়েদের কাছে নিয়ে শুয়ে আছি। আমার বাড়ির বাইরে পুলিশ পাহারা আছে। তবু মায়ের মন তো! ভয় হচ্ছে বাচ্চারা যখন বাইরে বেরোবে বা স্কুলে যাবে তখন যেন ওদের উপরে কোনও হামলা না হয়।" বাড়িতে তাঁর সঙ্গে রয়েছেন আত্মীয়রা। দাদা, বৌদি ছাড়াও রয়েছেন মাসি এবং এক ঘনিষ্ঠ বান্ধবী। তাঁরাই ভরসা জোগাচ্ছেন। সাহসিকতার তারিফ করছেন বার বার। বাড়ির বাচ্চারাও সারা ক্ষণ তাঁর মন ভাল করার চেষ্টায় আছে। আবার মেয়ের জীবনে একটা এত বড় দুর্ঘটনা ঘটে যেতে দেখে চরম অসুস্থ হয়ে পড়েছেন তাঁর বৃদ্ধা মা। এ দিন দুপুরে মহিলা জানান, ঘটনার দিন ভোর রাতে যখন তিনি বাড়ি ফেরেন, তখন বাড়িতে একমাত্র বড় মেয়েই জেগে ছিল। মাকে ওই অবস্থায় ফিরতে দেখে সে ভেঙে পড়ে। পরে ছোট মেয়ে ও মাকে ঘটনাটি বিস্তারিত জানান তিনি। তার পর চারটে দিন কেটেছে দমবন্ধ অবস্থায়। কী হবে? পুলিশের কাছে যাওয়া উচিত কি না, তা ভাবতে ভাবতে। অবশেষে মনোবল জুটিয়ে এক আত্মীয়কে সঙ্গে নিয়ে পার্ক স্ট্রিটে থানায় যান তিনি। অভিযোগকারিণী রবিবার বলেন, "সে দিন রাতে পার্ক স্ট্রিট থানায় কোনও মহিলা পুলিশ ছিলেন না। থানার দুই পুলিশ অফিসার, মণীশ সিংহ আর সৈকত নিয়োগীর অপমানেও ভেঙে পড়িনি। বরং আরও শক্ত হওয়ার চেষ্টা করেছি।" পরে কিন্তু অভিযুক্তদের পরিচয় ও ছবি নিয়ে নানা ধন্দ তৈরি হওয়ায় খানিকটা দিশেহারা লেগেছিল তাঁর। আতঙ্ক বাড়িয়েছিল রাতে ফোনের হুমকি। বিয়ে হয়েছিল অল্প বয়সেই। কিন্তু স্বামীর সঙ্গে থাকেন না গত ১১ বছর। ওই মহিলা জানান, আইনত বিচ্ছেদ হয়নি তাঁদের। তাই যোগাযোগ আছে। বাচ্চাদের সঙ্গেও তাদের বাবা নিয়মিত যোগাযোগ রাখেন। স্ত্রী ও বাচ্চাদের খরচপাতির দায় তাঁরই। স্ত্রীর এই ঘটনা শুনে যদিও সামনে আসতে পারছেন না, কিন্তু দুশ্চিন্তায় ভুগেছেন, ঘনঘন ফোন করছেন বাচ্চাদের। স্ত্রীকেও ফোন করে মনোবলও জুগিয়েছেন। এই ঘটনার পরে আর নাইট ক্লাব যাবেন? তিনি বলেন, "কেন যাব না? আমার জীবন যাত্রা পাল্টাবো না।" তাঁর এক আত্মীয়া বলেন, "আমাদের পরিবারের মেয়েরা রাতে পার্ক স্ট্রিটে যায়। আমাদের সমাজে রাতে বাইরে যাওয়া বা মদ খাওয়ায় বাধা নেই। আমরা ছোট থেকে এ সবে অভ্যস্ত।" কথা বলতে বলতেই ছোট মেয়েকে কোলের কাছে টেনে নিলেন মহিলা। বললেন, "আমার এই পাগলি বড় হয়ে শিক্ষকতা করতে চায়। কারণ আমার বাবা, ঠাকুমা, মাসিরা সবাই স্কুলে পড়াতেন। বাবা ও ঠাকুমা তো কলকাতার নামী দু'টি স্কুলে পড়াতেন। ঠাকুমা প্রধান শিক্ষিকা ছিলেন। আমাদের পরিবার শিক্ষকের পরিবার।" তার পর হাল্কা হেসে বললেন, "বড় মেয়েটা আমাকে ভীষণ বোঝে। অনেকটা পথ আমি ওদের নিয়ে একলা লড়াই করেছি। ও বড় হয়ে ইন্টিরিয়ার ডিজাইনার হতে চায়।" তিনি বলেন, "আমার লড়াইটা এখনও একারই। লড়তে জানি। আমি ছোটবেলা থেকে মিশনারি বোর্ডিং স্কুলে পড়েছি। খাস কলকাতার বুকেই বড় হয়েছি। কলকাতাকে খুব ভাল করেই চিনি। কিন্তু এমন ঘটনা ঘটবে, এটা কখনও ভাবিনি। আমার মতো অনেক মেয়ে কলকাতার বুকে একা লড়াই করেন। তাঁদের কথাই ভাবছি। নিজের সঙ্গেও মেলাচ্ছি। আর তখনই আতঙ্কিত হয়ে পড়ছি।" |
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| পার্ক স্ট্রিট কাণ্ডে মমতাকে বিঁধলেন বুদ্ধ-বিমান |
| নিজস্ব সংবাদদাতা |
| পার্ক স্ট্রিটে ধর্ষণের ঘটনায় সরাসরি মুখ্যমন্ত্রী তথা পুলিশমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়কে আক্রমণ করলেন সিপিএম নেতৃত্ব। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা প্রথমে ঘটনাটি 'সাজানো' বলে মন্তব্য করেছিলেন। কিন্তু পুলিশই শনিবার জানায়, পার্ক স্ট্রিট থেকে তুলে নিয়ে গিয়ে এক মহিলাকে ধর্ষণের ঘটনাটি ঘটেছিল। তার পরেই 'উজ্জীবিত' প্রধান বিরোধী দল রবিবার ব্রিগেড সমাবেশের মঞ্চ থেকে সরাসরি মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে নিশানা করেছে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী নিজে মহিলা হয়েও তাঁর মন্তব্যে মহিলাদের অভিযোগের প্রতি 'অসংবেদনশীলতা' ধরা পড়েছে, এই 'বার্তা'ই জনমানসে তুলে ধরার চেষ্টা চালিয়েছেন সিপিএম নেতৃত্ব। বিরোধীদের প্রশ্নের মুখে সরকার যে যথেষ্ট 'অস্বস্তি'তে, তা-ও মন্ত্রিসভার গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সদস্য তথা তৃণমূলের মহাসচিব পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায়ের বক্তব্যে স্পষ্ট। তিনি এই বিষয়ে সরাসরি প্রশ্নের জবাব দিতেই চাননি। রাজ্যের সার্বিক আইনশৃঙ্খলা পরিস্থিতির অবনতির কথা বলতে গিয়েই এ দিন ব্রিগেডে পার্ক স্ট্রিট প্রসঙ্গ টানেন প্রাক্তন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য। তাঁর বক্তব্য, "সারা বাংলায় অরাজকতা চলছে। প্রতিদিন খুন হচ্ছে, ছিনতাই হচ্ছে, ডাকাতি হচ্ছে। পার্ক স্ট্রিটে যে ঘটনা ঘটেছে, কিছু না-জেনেই সরকার বলে দিলেন, কিছুই হয়নি! আগে তো জানবেন, কী হয়েছে!" স্বভাবসিদ্ধ ভাবে বুদ্ধবাবু মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর নাম না-করলেও তাঁর আক্রমণের লক্ষ্য যে মমতাই, প্রাক্তন মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর কথাতেই তা স্পষ্ট। এর সঙ্গেই বুদ্ধবাবুর মন্তব্য, "চার দিকে দাপিয়ে বেড়াচ্ছে সমাজবিরোধীরা! অপরাধীরা মনে করছে, এই সরকারটা আমাদেরই! যা চাও, করে নাও!" ব্রিগেডের মঞ্চ থেকেই সিপিএমের রাজ্য সম্পাদক বিমান বসুর বক্তব্য, "এখান থেকে বেশি দূরে নয়। পার্ক স্ট্রিটে কয়েক দিন আগে এক নারীর মর্যাদাহানি হয়েছে। সরকার প্রথমে বলছে, মিথ্যা কথা। বানানো গল্প! মিথ্যার ফানুস এখন ফুটো হয়ে গিয়েছে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মহিলা হতে পারেন। কিন্তু মহিলাদের আত্মসম্মান রক্ষায় তাঁর কোনও ভাবনা নেই।" বিরোধী নেতাদের এই সমালোচনার জবাবে শিল্পমন্ত্রী পার্থবাবু এ দিন বলেন, "সব প্রশ্নের কি জবাব দেওয়া যায়? সব কথার পাল্টা বলতে হবে?" তবে একই সঙ্গে বুদ্ধবাবু-বিমানবাবুদের প্রতি পার্থবাবুর কটাক্ষ, "যাঁরা অভিযোগের আঙুল তুলছেন, তাঁরা নিজেদের দিকে আঙুলটা দেখান! অভিযুক্তরাই অভিযোগ করছে, এটাই হাস্যকর! তাই তো গোপাল ভাঁড়ের কথা বলছি!" প্রসঙ্গত, এ দিনই বিরোধী দলনেতা সূর্যকান্ত মিশ্রকে 'গোপাল ভাঁড়' আখ্যা দিয়েছেন পার্থবাবু। তৃণমূলের কোনও নেতাই ওই বিষয়ে মুখ খুলতে চাননি। তবে তদন্ত শেষের আগেই আগ বাড়িয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী স্বয়ং ওই ঘটনাকে 'সাজানো' আখ্যা দেওয়ায় সরকারপক্ষ যে যথেষ্ট 'বিড়ম্বনায়', তা একান্ত আলোচনায় দল ও সরকারের একাধিক গুরুত্বপূর্ণ নেতা স্বীকার করেছেন। কিন্তু মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর কথার প্রেক্ষিতে ওই বিষয়ে কেউই কোনও মন্তব্য করে তাঁর 'বিরাগভাজন' হতে চাইছেন না। |
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| রেলে থাকতে যা বলেছি সবই তো হল, দাবি মমতার |
| নিজস্ব সংবাদদাতা • কলকাতা |
| কাজের কাজ হয় না। শুধু পরের পর নতুন ট্রেন-সহ রেল প্রকল্প ঘোষণা করেন বলে রেলমন্ত্রী থাকাকালীন সমালোচনা হত মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের। রবিবার রেলেরই এক অনুষ্ঠানে সেই সব কটাক্ষের জবাব দিয়ে মমতা দাবি করলেন, রেলমন্ত্রী থাকার সময় বাজেটে তিনি যা যা ঘোষণা করেছিলেন, তার সবই পূরণ করা হয়েছে। সেই জন্যই অন্য কাজ থাকা সত্ত্বেও তিনি এই অনুষ্ঠানে হাজির হয়েছেন বলে জানান মমতা। শুধু রেল নয়, আকাশপথেও চলাচল বাড়ানোর ব্যাপারে নিজেদের চিন্তাভাবনার কথা বলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। তিনি জানান, কলকাতা থেকে রাজ্যের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ এলাকায় ছোট বিমান ও হেলিকপ্টার সার্ভিস চালু করার চেষ্টা হচ্ছে। এর জন্য অনেক ব্যবসায়ীই আগ্রহ প্রকাশ করেছেন। রাজ্য সরকার বিষয়টি যাচাই করছে। কলকাতা থেকে দুর্গাপুর, হলদিয়া, সুন্দরবন, দার্জিলিং, বোলপুরের মতো এলাকায় ওই সার্ভিস চালু করার চেষ্টা চলছে। হাওড়া স্টেশন সংলগ্ন প্রাঙ্গণে এ দিনের অনুষ্ঠানে পূর্ব ও দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব রেলের বেশ কয়েকটি নতুন ট্রেনের উদ্বোধন হয়। বিরোধীদের একহাত নিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী সেখানে বলেন, "নিন্দুকেরা বলেছিল, 'কিছুই হবে না।' কই, সবগুলোই তো হল! আমরা নিন্দুকের দলে নই। আমরা কাজের দলের পক্ষে। আর কাজের জন্য প্রচার দরকার নেই।" এ দিন দুই রেল মিলিয়ে ছ'টি নতুন প্যাসেঞ্জার ট্রেনের যাত্রার সূচনা করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। সেই সঙ্গে জানান, একটি এক্সপ্রেস ট্রেনের যাত্রার দিন বাড়ানো হচ্ছে। এক্সপ্রেস, প্যাসেঞ্জার ও লোকাল মিলিয়ে ন'টি ট্রেন চালু হচ্ছে তিন-চার দিনের মধ্যেই। সম্প্রসারিত হচ্ছে একটি ইএমইউ ট্রেনের যাত্রাপথও। |
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| হাওড়ায় রেলের অনুষ্ঠানে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। রবিবার। ছবি: সুদীপ আচার্য্য |
| এ দিনের অনুষ্ঠানে রেলমন্ত্রী দীনেশ ত্রিবেদীও মঞ্চে উপস্থিত ছিলেন। তিনি ঘোষণা করেন, কলকাতার মেট্রো সম্প্রসারণ-সহ সব প্রকল্পের কাজ পাঁচ-ছ'বছরের মধ্যেই শেষ হয়ে যাবে। মমতা অবশ্য বক্তব্যের শুরুতেই মন্তব্য করেন, কাজ করতে চাইলে কম সময়েই কাজ করা যায়। তিনি বলেন, "এই যে নতুন কোনও প্রকল্পের জন্য সময় বেঁধে দেওয়া হয়, আমি মনে করি, এটা ভুল। কাজ করতে চাইলে ওই কাজ অনেক কম সময়েই শেষ করে ফেলা যায়।" দিঘা-তমলুক রেললাইনের উদাহরণ দিয়ে মমতা বলেন, "দীর্ঘদিন ধরে পড়ে ছিল ওই প্রকল্প। অনেক বাধাবিপত্তি সত্ত্বেও আমি সেটা মাত্র ন'মাসে শেষ করে দিয়েছি। আসলে কাজ করতে জানতে হয়।" মেট্রো সম্প্রসারণের কাজ কী ভাবে দ্রুত শেষ করা যায়, তা খতিয়ে দেখার জন্য মঞ্চে দাঁড়িয়েই রেলমন্ত্রীকে অনুরোধ করেন তিনি। যাত্রী এবং রেলের সার্বিক নিরাপত্তার বিষয়টিকে সব চেয়ে বেশি গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হচ্ছে বলে জানান রেলমন্ত্রী। তিনি মনে করেন, রেল বোর্ডেও 'মেম্বার-সেফটি' বা নিরাপত্তার জন্য একটি স্থায়ী সদস্যপদ রাখা দরকার। আয় বাড়ানোর জন্য থাকা উচিত আরও একটি স্থায়ী সদস্যপদ ('রেভিনিউ আর্নিং')। অনুষ্ঠানে কেন্দ্রীয় জাহাজ প্রতিমন্ত্রী মুকুল রায়, স্বাস্থ্য প্রতিমন্ত্রী সুদীপ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, মেয়র শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায় এবং তিন রেলের জেনারেল ম্যানেজার উপস্থিত ছিলেন। |
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| নিন্দায় বিশ্বাস করি না, 'জবাব' মমতার |
| নিজস্ব সংবাদদাতা • কলকাতা |
| রেলের অনুষ্ঠান মঞ্চ থেকে ব্রিগেডে সিপিএমের অভিযোগের 'প্রত্যুত্তর' দিলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্য, বিমান বসু, সূর্যকান্ত মিশ্রদের বক্তব্যকে কার্যত কোনও 'গুরুত্ব' না দিয়েই মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর দাবি, "আমরা নিন্দুকের দলে নই। নিন্দায় বিশ্বাস করি না। কাজই আমাদের সব কিছু।" তাঁর 'হাতিয়ার' কাজ, তা জানিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, "আগে তো কোনও প্রকল্প হাতে নেওয়ার সময় বলা হত কাজ শেষ হতে পাঁচ-ছ'বছর লাগবে। পাঁচ বছরের কাজ আমরা ন'মাসে করে দেখিয়ে দিয়েছি। ইচ্ছে থাকলে পাঁচ বছরের কাজ এক বছরে করা যায়।" পরিবহণ কর্মীদের বেতন দিতে না-পারা নিয়ে রবিবার ব্রিগেডে রাজ্যের প্রাক্তন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বুদ্ধদেববাবু যেমন অভিযোগ তুলেছেন, বিরোধীদের প্রতি মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর স্পষ্ট 'বার্তা' "কুৎসা-অপপ্রচার করে কোনও লাভ হবে না। নিন্দুকের সিন্দুক নিয়ে চুপ করে বসে থাকুন। কোনও কথা বলবেন না। বাংলাকে যাঁরা পিছনের সারিতে নিয়ে গিয়েছেন, তাঁরা আবার সামনের সারিতে আসার চেষ্টা করবেন না! পিছনের সারিতেই থাকুন!" তাঁর আরও বক্তব্য, "এ রকম রাজনৈতিক দল থাকার প্রয়োজন নেই। শুধু বদনাম করা। ৩৫ বছরে কী হয়েছে? কৃষকদের ভবিষ্যৎ লুঠ, নোবেল লুঠ! সব লুঠ হয়েছে। এ রকম পার্টিকে কেউ চাইবে না। ৩৫ বছরে কী হয়েছে? একটা চ্যানেল আর কাগজকে দিয়ে ইঁদুর-আরশোলার গল্প বানিয়েছে। জ্ঞানেশ্বরীতে লোককে মারা হল! এদের কেউ ক্ষমা করতে পারে?" বস্তুত, ব্রিগেড সমাবেশের অব্যবহিত পরেই তৃণমূল নেতৃত্ব 'জবাব' দেওয়ার কাজ শুরু করে দেন। হাওড়ায় মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর বক্তব্যের আগেই তপসিয়ায় তৃণমূল ভবন থেকে দলের মহাসচিব তথা রাজ্য সরকারের অন্যতম গুরুত্বপূর্ণ মন্ত্রী পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায় এবং দলের সর্বভারতীয় সাধারণ সম্পাদক তথা কেন্দ্রীয় মন্ত্রী মুকুল রায় প্রমুখ সিপিএমের ব্রিগেড সমাবেশকে 'হাস্যকর' আখ্যা দেন। সমাবেশের মূল্যায়ন করে পার্থবাবু জানান, ২০১১ সালের ফেব্রুয়ারি মাসে ব্রিগেডে সমাবেশ করে অষ্টম বামফ্রন্ট সরকার হবে বলে বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্যরা ঘোষণা করেছিলেন। কিন্তু তাঁরা বিধানসভা ভোটে 'পর্যুদস্ত' হয়েছিলেন। তিনি বলেন, "এ দিনের ব্রিগেড থেকে বুদ্ধবাবুরা বললেন, ৮ মাসের মধ্যেই তাঁরা ঘুরে দাঁড়াবেন। ঘুরে দাঁড়াতে আর হবে না! মানুষ ওঁদের সরিয়ে দিয়েছেন! এখন যেটুকু আছে, আগামী পঞ্চায়েত ভোটের পরে সিপিএমের সেটুকুও নিশ্চিহ্ন হয়ে যাবে।" কৃষক-মৃত্যু নিয়ে ব্রিগেডে রাজ্য সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে সিপিএমের সাধারণ সম্পাদক প্রকাশ কারাটের অভিযোগ 'ন্যাশনাল ক্রাইম রেকর্ড ব্যুরো'র পরিসংখ্যান দিয়ে নস্যাৎ করে পার্থ-মুকুল পাল্টা বলেন, "১৯৯৫ সাল থেকে ২০১০ পর্যন্ত গড়ে ১ হাজার ১০০ কৃষকের মৃত্যু হয়েছে। কারাট তো ডাহা মিথ্যা বলেছেন যে বাম-জমানায় কোনও কৃষকের মৃত্যু হয়নি।" এক ধাপ এগিয়ে মুকুলবাবু বলেন, "জাতীয় ক্রাইম ব্যুরোকে তো তথ্য দিয়েছে জ্যোতি বসু-বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্যের সরকারেরই পুলিশ!" সিপিএম নেতাদের 'সন্ত্রাসে'র অভিযোগ কার্যত উড়িয়ে দিয়ে পার্থবাবু বলেন, "সন্ত্রাস হলে ওঁরা জেলা থেকে রাজ্য সম্মেলন সুষ্ঠুভাবে করলেন কী ভাবে?'' সন্ত্রাসের অভিযোগ নিয়ে সরব বিরোধী দলনেতা সূর্যকান্ত মিশ্রকে 'গোপাল ভাঁড়' বলেও কটাক্ষ করেন মুকুলবাবু, পার্থবাবু। তাঁরা বলেন, "আগে গৌতম দেব, বিমান বসুরা যে ভাঁড়ের ভূমিকা নিতেন, এখন সূর্যবাবু তা করছেন।'' গত আট মাসে রাজ্য সরকার তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি-সহ নতুন কোনও শিল্প আনতে পারেনি বলে বুদ্ধবাবুর সমালোচনার জবাবে রাজ্যের শিল্পমন্ত্রী বলেন, "বুদ্ধবাবু এখনও পরাজয়ের শোক কাটিয়ে উঠতে পারেননি বলে আবোলতাবোল বকছেন।" পার্থবাবুর পাল্টা অভিযোগ, বামফ্রন্ট রাজত্বে ৩৪ বছরে ৪ হাজার ১০টি শিল্পের অনুমোদন দেওয়ার পর মাত্র ৮৩৩ টি বাস্তবায়িত হয়েছে। কিন্তু কার্যক্ষেত্রে কী হয়েছে, তা তিনি সরেজমিনে দেখবেন বলে জানিয়েছেন পার্থবাবু। তাঁর দাবি, "গত আটমাসে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তিতে প্রচুর বিনিয়োগের প্রস্তাব এসেছে। মোট ৬৫ হাজার কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগের প্রস্তাব এসেছে।" প্রাক্তন মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে লক্ষ্য করে পার্থবাবুর ব্যঙ্গোক্তি, "ভগবান বৃদ্ধ হয়েছেন। তাই চোখে দেখতে পাচ্ছেন না!" |
http://www.anandabazar.com/20raj4.html
Trio with a police connectionRape accused knew cop at night spot | |
| OUR BUREAU | |
Calcutta, Feb. 19: Proximity to a police officer may have given a "sense of protection" to the three young men arrested for the rape of a 37-year-old lady in Calcutta, though the trio's names had made it to at least four police stations before the assault. The Telegraph has learnt that the three have cases against them in the police stations. Yet, they felt emboldened enough to have a free run through manned traffic intersections on the night of February 5. They roamed the party district freely because at least one officer deputed to keep watch on them had almost become a silent accomplice, sources said today. Sumit Bajaj, Ruman Khan and Naser were today sent to 14 days' police custody. The charge has been converted from rape to gangrape after the court granted the police permission for such a request. The police station in Park Street itself has a complaint against the trio for a brawl in the same five-star discotheque from where they had left with the lady after allegedly befriending her. Police stations in neighbouring Shakespeare Sarani, Beniapukur and Bhowanipore, too, have their names on the record books. "These are not wanted criminals but rowdies whose activities the local police stations were aware of," an officer said. Police sources said a Park Street sub-inspector enjoyed a "very good relationship" with Sumit, Ruman and Naser, "inside the nightclub and outside". The same officer has been on duty at the discotheque for around three years — a stint that could not have stretched for so long without the approval of senior officers. The officer, police sources said, is also known to two of the three suspects who are still to be arrested. The two — Naser's brother Kader and Johnny — were allegedly in the Honda City when the woman was raped. "When we were desperately looking for suspects, there was an officer in the police force (the sub-inspector) who knew about a group with a history. Since the officer visits the nightclub every weekend, he had become friendly with all the faces who frequent the place," said an officer at Lalbazar. Through this officer, the police were able to trace a woman who frequents the nightclub and knows the familiar faces there. She corroborated the police's conclusion — based on mobile tower data — that the duo earlier identified by the victim were not at the hotel that night. "This lady had seen the victim exchanging words with a group of young men. She was shown photographs of Sharafat and Azhar. She said it was not the same duo," said an officer. "Instead, she provided us with some vital leads that helped us track down the suspects." The nightclub is a "coveted posting" on the police circuit. Earlier, plainclothesmen from the detective department used to be there every weekend. "But the routine was scrapped after superior officers came to know that the men supposed to keep an eye on the nightclub crowd were themselves taking advantage of the five-star hotel and consuming liquor free," an officer said. "Now the sleuths visit nightclubs only when they pursue a particular case." Since then, Park Street police station looks after the nightclubs in its area. Every weekend night (February 5 was a Sunday), 30 policemen are deployed at "strategic locations", besides at least 20 traffic personnel. "We deploy five to seven men right outside the five-star hotel and one officer (the sub-inspector) at the nightclub," said a Park Street officer. Some of the men in uniform have grown "so close" to some people, one officer said, that "they have got a sense of protection" from the police. Kader, a suspect still at large, is said to be seeing a Tollywood actress and had told friends they would tie the knot soon. He had visited this actress on the sets of her debut film. "A resident of Taltala in central Calcutta, he came across as a goon and he flaunted a gun on the sets one day," said a Tollywood source. "We wondered what this girl was doing with a boy like that but she had told friends that they were dating since her college days. She had his photograph saved as her cellphone wallpaper," said another source. Sumit, 21, is from a well-to-do family in Gariahat and his father runs a transport business. "Most of the time, he finances the weekend parties," said an officer. Ruman, 25, who lives in his grandfather's house in Beniapukur, looks after his father's tannery in Topsia. Kader and Naser are brothers. Their father deals in industrial |
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120220/jsp/frontpage/story_15156577.jsp
Tigress who won't be swayed by the mighty | ||
| MONALISA CHAUDHURI | ||
Mrs Damayanti Sen, thank you very much. You have been a tigress and champ and I will be indebted to you all my life for believing in me, as a woman. That was how the 37-year-old lady who had been assaulted and raped on the night of February 5 saluted the joint commissioner of police (crime) in an interview to STAR Ananda on Sunday. She was grateful to Sen as much for cracking the case and identifying the "real culprits" as for standing by her, as a police officer and as a woman. This despite the chief minister having dismissed the complaint as "concocted" and the police commissioner having echoed her line that there was an attempt to malign the government and the police force by those highlighting the woman's trauma. So, who is this "tigress and champ"? Damayanti Sen, the face of Lalbazar in the probe into the impersonation and rape of the mother of two in a moving car between Park Street and Nandan, is the first woman boss of the crime wing of Calcutta police. A slip of a lady, with a boyish haircut and a no-nonsense air about her, the 42-year-old Capricornian hardly fits the stereotypical look of a top cop. But cross her path — or even try small talk with her — and you're sure to feel the steel. In the absence of authoritative material, Linda Goodman's Sun Signs appears to know this trait better: "Never be fooled by the feeble appearance of a Capricorn. Capricorns can look and act as harmless as a feather quilt, but they're as tough as a keg of nails." Sen would, of course, play down the "first-woman" label when it comes to her pride of place in Lalbazar. "I don't think that women are better or worse off in a job. The only reason people ask a lot of questions related to my gender is because there are fewer women in my profession now than men. But as that changes, people will stop being so interested (in my gender)," she had told The Telegraph a few years ago. Sen joined the police force in 1996, after doing her bachelors and masters in economics from Jadavpur University, both with a first-class first degree. Married to Rajat Shubhro Sen, a teacher, and mom to young Arjun, a student of Calcutta International School, Sen is known to juggle cooking for her son's school picnic with busting the most demanding crime cases in town. She keeps a low profile by choice — no personal questions please, is something reporters attempting to pen a profile of her are bound to encounter — and is known to have an eye for Bengali literature and a ear for Rabindrasangeet. But it is as a tough cop that the city knows — and needs — her. She has served in the detective department for years and risen to the top — again, the first woman chief of the intelligence wing. In all these years, the case of the mother of two accusing three youths of assaulting and raping her in a moving car on the night of February 5 would figure among her toughest. First, to wrestle with the discrepancies in the woman's initial account. Then to be stumped by the complainant's identification of three men who were not at the scene of the crime and not take the easy way out of arresting them just on the basis of the complaint. Finally, to get to the truth of impersonation and rape and in the process contradict Mamata Banerjee's "concocted… conspiracy" dismissal at Writers' Buildings followed by R.K. Pachnanda's statement partly backing the chief minister's stand at Lalbazar. "Policing and politics often overlap. There are many examples in Bengal of senior officers having toed the line laid down by the political bosses and compromising the truth," said a retired top cop, refusing to cite examples. "This investigation team did a commendable job by protecting the innocent men despite some pressure to arrest them and then digging out the truth despite that being embarrassing for the chief minister who had clearly jumped the gun. And let me tell you, this would not have been possible without the chief minister and the police commissioner giving the team a free hand between February 16 and 18," he added. Sen, as the leader of this probe team, spent over 15 hours in Lalbazar every day from February 15, standing by the woman and yet not going blindly by her complaint. "Something had definitely happened that night. But we are still not sure what exactly happened and who all were involved in the incident," she told a news conference on February 16. After two days of intensive interrogation and investigation, Sen made public the conclusion on February 18. "It was a case of impersonation. Two of the men involved in the assault that night have been arrested and the hunt is on for the rest." Was the woman raped? "Yes," she said, jaws set. What evidence of rape had the police got? "In this case, the victim's statement is the most important," said Sen, with the same steely look. At the end of the day, Sen and her team's unflinching pursuit of the crime investigation process paid off. Let's bring in Linda Goodman again: "Capricorns hammer away persistently, relentlessly, managing to digest pressures, disappointments and duty calmly." |
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120220/jsp/frontpage/story_15156578.jsp
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