Four constables and one inspector of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and a deputy commandant of the force were issued a notice in connection with the April 10 firing incident in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police. They were served notice under Section 160 of the CrPC and were asked to appear at the CID headquarters on Tuesday. None of the six officials of the central forces turned up for the enquiry. The investigating officials have decided to send further notices to the central forces.

Last week, sleuths of the West Bengal CID, which is probing the deaths of five persons in firing by the CISF personnel during fourth phase of assembly election, questioned the investigating officer of the Mathabhanga police station. SP of CoochBehar, Debasish Dhar was suspended after the incident.

An SIT (Special investigating team) was formed under DIG CID Kalyan Mukhopadhyay to carry out the investigation in the case.

BJP, which has supported the firings, has meanwhile called the investigation politically motivated. BJP general secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya said, “The CID’s action is politically motivated. They have no right to summon CISF personnel.” Turncoat party leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the CID is doing it on the directions of Mamata Banerjee.

Also Read: Sitalkuchi violence-Where it all started- beasts in uniforms attacked Minal Haque

The actual incident which triggered the violence involved a teenage kid, who was assaulted by the central forces, allegedly without any provocation. Minal Haque, a class VIII student was playing at a distance of 800 metres from the polling booth number 126 on the day of the fourth-phase polling in Coochbehar.

A team of central forces, known as QRT(quick reaction team) arrived in a vehicle at the playground and started interrogating the kid. After being unable to comprehend what the kid was saying in his response, one of the men in the security forces hit the kid with the baton of his rifle in his spine and waist.

As the kid fell down, chaos spread in the area. Father of Minal, Majid Mian rushed to get the kid to hospital, where doctors told him to get ultrasonography and CT scan done.

This incident led the villagers to protest around the polling booth which led to open-firing which killed four people.

Also Read: Sitakulchi firing-Facts on the ground do not add up with the claims by the central forces

In a statement given a day after taking oath, Mamata Banerjee has assured that her government will provide jobs of home guard to one family member each of all five persons killed in Sitalkuchi.

The incident of Sitalkuchi violence had drawn protests and criticism from the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC), which held demonstrations across the state to protest the firing incident. Several TMC activists had worn black badges and demanded the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah.

However, Election commission of India which has received a lot of flak from judiciary, had said that that the security forces had to open fire in self-defence.  BJP leaders like Dilip Ghosh had referred to the firing incident multiple times to give veiled threats which allude to killing of minority people during the poll campaign.