CBI charges TMC neta, 17 others for Birbhum arson

KOLKATA: The CBI, probing the Bogtui massacre in Birbhum on the directions of the Calcutta high court, filed a chargesheet on Monday against 18 people, including Anarul Hossain, block president of TMC.
Filed 90 days after the agency took over the case, the chargesheet includes the names of two minors.
On March 21, arsonists set fire to 10 houses in Bogtui village, where seven people were burnt alive.Three people died in hospital later, taking the toll to 10. The CBI also named four people in the chargesheet relating to the murder of Bhadu Shekh, the upapradhan of Barshal gram panchayat. It concluded that the massacre was a “direct fallout” of Bhadu’s murder. In its chargesheet, CBI said rivalry between Bhadu and Sona Shekh’s family was the reason behind the murder and arson. Police and the CBI arrested 27 people in connection with the massacre.
The agency registered a case in Bhadu’s murder on April 8 against 10 accused. In the chargesheet, CBI said on March 21, at around 8. 30pm, Bhadu was talking over phone near Bogtui More when bombs were thrown at him.