Author: Statesman News Service
Publication: The Statesman
Date: April 23, 2003
For Mr Subal Bagchi, it came as
a bolt from the blue. The expelled CPI-M leader, who is also prime accused
in the Dhantala rape case, was today greeted with a showering of petals,
blowing of conchshells and a sprinkling of aabir by a crowd of over 10,000
people who had gathered to greet him as he emerged from the Ranaghat sub-
divisional jail. The delirious crowd also shouted slogans in his support.
Interestingly, most of those who
had arrived to greet him on a large convoy of trucks and cars to greet
Mr Bagchi are reportedly CPI-M workers. The CPI-M leadership of Purba Noapara
had reportedly warned them against organising any public meeting at Ranaghat
in favour of Mr Bagchi, but these orders were evidently ignored, said Mr
Palash Das, a local CPI-M activist. Mr Bagchi was granted bail by the District
Judge yesterday afternoon for lack of sufficient circumstantial evidence.
The Judge, however, refused the bail plea of co-accused Sahidul Karigar.
The police had arrested Mr Bagchi
on 6 February while the records dated the arrest on 10 February, an inconsistency
which was remarked upon by the Judge.
CPI-M district secretary Mr Ashu
Ghosh declined comment on the bail, saying Mr Bagchi does not belong to
the party any more.
Speaking to the media, Mr Bagchi
said his first and foremost duty is to prove himself innocent and then
seek an explanation from his party leaders about his expulsion. He also
declared that he would help Independent candidates against the CPI-M in
various seats.
