Nandigram incident that left Mamata injured was ‘accident, not attack’: Police report to EC

Kolkata: The incident in Nandigram that resulted in an injury to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday was an accident, according to preliminary police findings submitted to the Election Commission Thursday.  

The incident was “not an attack”, says the report, which has been accessed by ThePrint.

The report claims to have arrived at its conclusion via video footage and accounts of local police and eyewitnesses, including Trinamool Congress members. It says the chief minister was hurt when her car, while maneuvering through a crowded bazaar area, hit a small iron pillar.

Banerjee, who enjoys a Z+ security cover (highest level), was waving at people with her car door open. She hurt her feet as the car door was slammed shut after hitting the pillar on the narrow street, the report states.

Banerjee had alleged Wednesday evening that she was attacked by four-five men who pushed her, and banged on the door of her car, causing injuries to her. The BJP had dismissed the episode as “drama”.

The Nandigram incident came hours after the state DGP was moved out on the orders of the Election Commission (EC), and a successor sent in. The Trinamool Congress has described the series of events — from the DGP’s removal to the Nandigram episode — as part of a “well-thought-out plan”.

A Trinamool Congress delegation led by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien has filed a complaint with the EC, calling the incident a “deep-rooted conspiracy” to kill Banerjee.

Meanwhile, police in the Purba Medinipur district have registered a case in the matter following a complaint lodged by TMC leader Sheikh Sufian. The FIR invokes IPC sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) against unknown persons.

Police sources told ThePrint that the EC has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident.

‘No evidence of attack’

According to the police report, no evidence has been found that might substantiate the chief minister’s claim of a “planned attack” on her.

The report also claims to mention accounts of local Trinamool leaders describing the incident as “unintentional” .

A TMC leader was quoted as saying in the report that the crowd comprised “our people who gathered for the CM’s programme”. They were Trinamool workers, “they would never hurt our Didi”, the leader added, saying “there might be some pushing, but that was caused by the overcrowding, it was unintentional”.

Speaking to ThePrint, a senior police official said there “were around 50 people gathered near the chief minister’s vehicle at the specific point”.

“However, there was no proof of any pushing or thrashing the chief minister there. The police officials present at the spot said the car door was hit by the pillar and it was then slammed shut  on her feet. She received injury there,” the official added.

Transfer of DGP 

Hours before the incident in Nandigram, Bengal DGP Virendra was transferred by the EC, reportedly after an adverse report from its special observers in the state, and IPS officer P. Nirajnayan took charge as his successor.

The transfer came days after the EC removed Bengal Additional Director General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim.

“Didi was very upset with the transfer of the DGP. She was contemplating moving court challenging the EC’s order to reverse the transfer,” a senior Trinamool leader said, requesting anonymity.

Banerjee has also criticised the special police observer appointed by the EC for the state, Vivek Dubey.

“This is a well-thought-out plan. They (EC) first removed ADG (LO) and then the DGP.  There has been a security lapse, CM’s security was breached. This is, of course, a conspiracy,” said state minister and Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee.

In its complaint to the EC, the Trinamool Congress said the senior IPS officers were removed without any consultation with the state government. “The attack is a deep-rooted conspiracy to take the life of our chairperson (Mamata Banerjee),” read the letter.

They have also alleged a “nexus” between the BJP’s complaints against the erstwhile DGP, his removal by the EC, and “the SP and district police (who report to the new DGP) being absent at the time of the brazen attack” on Banerjee. (The Print)