Sitalkuchi firing: CID takes drone images, quizzes witnesses again

Kolkata: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of CID used drone imagery on Monday to map the area around Jorpatki booth in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar, where CISF firing allegedly killed four persons during the fourth phase of polling in Bengal on April 10.
The aerial images are expected to add an extra dimension to investigations by allowing sleuths to determine with accuracy parameters such as where the alleged mob had gathered, where exactly the firing took place, the distance from the polling booth and the radius within which the bodies were found.
The SIT spent over an hour in the morning at Jorpatki while Mathabhanga police assisted the team in sealing the area. Sources in CID said six witnesses, including two women who are key to the case, were questioned. Senior officers also spoke to a minor who was allegedly beaten up by the CISF in a precursor to the firing incident. “We spoke at length with all our witnesses,” a source said, adding that the SIT was likely to stay in Cooch Behar for some more time.
Monday’s witness accounts, sources hinted, was crucial to corroborating statements given by five Bengal police officers to CID at Bhawani Bhawan earlier. “Our team had spoken to these witnesses before. But, this time, we needed some clarifications,” said a source. Senior officers refused to come on record about the day’s developments.
Sources said drone imaging would help the SIT have a “clear understanding of the entire area — distance from the police station, distance from where the quick reaction team had travelled to respond to reports of trouble and the distance the sector officer travelled to reach the spot”. “The time factor is crucial for the probe,” a source said.
It is learnt that former SP of Cooch Behar — Debasish Dhar — may be questioned. A final decision though is likely to be taken next week.