TMC workers’ murder: Accused MLA Bhunia’s name not in chargesheet

Manas Bhunia. (File photo)

Three months after he defected to the Trinamool Congress, from the Congress, MLA Manas Bhunia — who was named as an accused in the murder of TMC worker Joydeb Jana — has not been included in the chargesheet filed in the Midnapore Court.

The FIR lodged at Sabang police station had named 23 persons including Bhunia, his brother and ex-Congress West Midnapore president Bikas Bhunia and their close aide and Sabang Panchayat Samity president Amal Panda. The chargesheet, however, does not mention the names of these three. The court summoned complainant Joydeb Metia on Tuesday to ask if he had any objection to the exclusion of the names. Metia said he didn’t. On Wednesday, the investigation officer of the case is scheduled to appear in court and give an explantion on the chargesheet.

On April 8, days before the Sabang Assembly constituency elections, Jana was beaten to death allegedly by CPM and Congress workers at Dubrajpur area in West Medinipur. He was attacked with sharp weapons, lathis and iron rods when he was returning home, police had said. The TMC had lodged a complaint, and arrest warrants were issued in July against those whose names had appeared on the chargesheet. At the time, Bhunia was the local MLA from the area.

Congress MLA Manoj Chakraborty said, “The cat is finally out of the bag about why Manas had to switch sides and join TMC. He had to save himself.”