Tripura Journalist murder: SIT serves notice

Agartala, Jan 02: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government to investigate the killing of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmik, by Tripura State Rifles (TSR) 2nd battalion headquarters near Agartala has served a notice to the general secretary of Tripura working journalist Association (TWJA) Debasish Majumdar for interrogation.
The SIT served him notice yesterday under section 160 CrPC asking Majumdar to appear before the team today. The notice stated that Majumdar in a press conference had mentioned that there was an apprehension of the involvement of former Director General of Police K Nagraj behind the killing of Sudip.
The notice served upon Majumdar ,however, stated that based on his statement, the media had covered the story, which also indicated that Majumdar in posession of material clues in regard to his claim of involvement of Nagraj in the case. “For the interest of the case, your examination has become necessary,” it added.
However, TWJA and Forum for Protection of Journalists (FPJ), Tripura condemned the notice and accused the SIT officials of attempting to destroy the evidence of the case and divert the mode of investigation.
FPJ Convener Pranab Sarkar alleged that SIT has intended to harass the protesting journalists who have been fighting for independent government enquiry like by CBI into the murder of Sudip Datta Bhowmik and Shantanu Bhowmik.
TWJA is an active associate of FPJ and being the General Secretary of the association Debasish Majumdar is one of the executives of the forum and serving notice upon him is considered to be a derogatory move by SIT, which was not being recognized by the journalists and opposing it since beginning.
“It is a clear move of police to harass the journalist by serving notice, which itself is illegal. Debasish had expressed his doubt over the role of K Nagraj behind the murder of Sudip Datta Bhowmik who was gunned down by the police in the camp. SIT has been trying to shield the actual criminals involved in the murder and conspiracy,” Sarkar said.
He further pointed out that Debasish had mentioned in the press conference that the half-burnt newspaper of Syandan Patrika which was recovered near Sudip’s bullet-riddled body had two stories – one against K Nagraj and another was regarding corruption of the accused commandant of TSR 2nd battalion Tapan Debbarma.
“The particular story of Nagraj dealt with the initiative of a section of police officers to bring him back as DGP who has been chargesheeted by CBI for possessing disproportionate assets. The state government had to remove Nagraj from the post because of several charges against him but some corrupt police officials including Tapan Debbarma were lobbying for reinstating him,” Sarkar stated.
To justifying the demand of independent government enquiry Debasish Majumdar in the press conference stated that a former DGP who is still in service is believed to be involved in the case, the SIT of Tripura police would not ensure impartial investigation rather they would try to save the actual conspirators in course of investigation, he said adding that by serving notice to Debasish SIT proved their weakness in the investigation.
The veteran journalist and editor of Syandan Patrika Subal Kumar Dey alleged that not only Tapan Debbarma, several other top police officials had met him in several occasions requesting him to stop writing about corruption of K Nagraj who was the DGP then. “We have explained everything and the conspiracy of police about their  plan to harass the journalists to President of India, Union Home Minister and 
Prime Minister’s Office. We have no faith in SITs constituted for investigating the murder of Sudip Datta Bhowmik and Shantanu Bhowmik because in both the cases police are accused,” Dey opined.
He alleged that both the journalists were victims of deep rooted conspiracy hatched at top level.
While Sudip Datta Bhowmik was gunned down by TSR personnel under the instruction of commandant Tapan Debbarma on November 21 last at R K Nagar of Agartala, Shantanu was killed by unknown miscreants in presence of police when he went to Mandai of Agartala to cover the agitation of ruling CPI-M and opposition IPFT on September 20 last. UNI