Mamata orders judicial probe into Bengal legislator's death

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged suicide of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator Mostafa Bin Quasem after his son approached the city police asking for a probe into the case.

"He (Quasem) was a honourable member of the assembly. A probe is required not only for the honour of the assembly, but also for the sake of his family. It is the duty and responsibility of the government to find out the truth," Banerjee said at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings.

"To ensure transparency, we have ordered the setting up of a one-member committee to probe into the matter. Who will head or be the member of the committee will be decided later by the state chief secretary," she added.

As per the police report, Quasem committed suicide May 29 by jumping from the third floor of the legislators' hostel in the city.

However, his son Masum Bin Quasem suspected foul play behind his father's death and demanded a judicial probe. He approached Kolkata Police Commissioner Ranjit Panchnanda Saturday.

"On behalf of my mother Nure Jahan Mostafa, we have handed over the plea to the police commissioner," Masum Bin Quasem told IANS.

The plea reads: "I feel that my husband Mostafa Bin Quasem did not commit suicide, there must be some foul play behind it. So I request you to initiate a fresh investigation into the matter."


 

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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the Joint Session of Ethiopian Parliament, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 26, 2011.