Centre's advisory to Bengal on probe

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 8. The Centre tonight sent an advisory to the West Bengal Government, suggesting that an independent inquiry be held into the violence that rocked Chotoangra massacre.

The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, told presspersons here that the Centre would like to hear from the State Government as to why an independent inquiry should not be held.

``Prima facie it appears from the reports and versions of those who have met me that an incident took place and a house was set on fire in the village,'' he said.

The Home Ministry's advisory pointed out that violent incidents and clashes had taken place in Garbeta but a clear picture had not emerged in absence of any concrete evidence or recovery of bodies. The State Government, in its report to the Home Ministry on Saturday, had admitted that a house had been set on fire but did not make any mention of casualties.

Mr. Advani said, ``we will see what can be done under the given framework. We will wait for all reports to come as well as the report of the NDA team sent to the State.''

Earlier the Union Home Secretary, Mr. Kamal Pande, had also spoken to the State Chief Secretary, Mr. Manish Gupta, over phone and conveyed the Centre's concern over the incident and clashes.

Senior Congress leader and MP, Mr. Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, met the Home Minister and showed him the exhibits of the alleged ``massacre'' at Chotoangara. Mr. Dasmunshi, who had visited the village, said he showed bullet shells, which included some of .303 bore used by the police, to the Home Minister.

He demanded entrusting the inquiry to the CBI and holding an all- party meeting in New Delhi.

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