Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday admitted names of several key accused were missing from the complaint filed over a policeman's killing in Kolkata but promised "law will take its course" and the guilty punished.
"There are some names missing in the FIR (first information report). I will inquire why the names are missing," said Banerjee after meeting the family of the slain policeman, Tapas Chowdhury, at his residence.
Banerjee was asked by reporters why local Trinamool Congress councillor Mohammad Iqbal was roaming freely despite being named in the FIR under several non-bailable offences.
"The law will take its course. My one word is enough," the chief minister told reporters.
Losing her cool, Banerjee named two news channels and said she won't answer queries from them. "Don't prepare a plan."
The policeman was killed in a clash between the student wings of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Congress at Harimohan Ghose College in the Garden Reach area Tuesday.
Chowdhury, a sub-inspector attached to the special branch, was shot from close range while trying to control the clashing students.
Councillor Iqbal was charged with rioting, attempt to murder and certain sections of the Arms Act but was not arrested. He was seen at the spot of the incident, threatening a policeman.
Video footage aired by television channels showed Iqbal standing beside Sheikh Shubhaan, the man who was caught on TV firing the bullet that allegedly killed the policeman.
Urban Development Minister and Trinamool leader Firhad Hakim said Iqbal was innocent but political parties accused the ruling party of shielding the councillor.
"There is enough evidence on how the ruling party is giving shelter to these goons," said Biman Bose, chairperson of the state Left Front.
Reacting to allegations that Hakim was shielding Iqbal, Governor MK Narayanan, who too on Thursday visited the grieving family, said: "Hakim has no business doing that (shielding Iqbal)."
Banerjee, who visited the policeman's family two days after the incident, offered some relief on compassionate grounds.
Besides announcing the appointment of the policeman's daughter, Tanushree, to a clerical post in the police department, Banerjee said his wife Minoti will be entitled to her husband's salary.
Describing Chowdhury's death as "personal loss", Banerjee said the family of the policeman will be given Rs 5 lakh from the chief minister's relief fund along with the insurance money of Rs 15 lakh.
The chief minister said another Rs 3 lakh would be given to Chowdhury's elderly mother for her treatment. The government would also pay for the higher education of Chowdhury's school-going son Tamal.
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