Lalgarh killings: Governor Narayanan to visit Netai village on Jan. 19

KOLKATA - West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan is scheduled to visit Lalgarh’s Netai village on January 19 to assess the impact on residents from the recent spate of violence in the area.

It may be recalled that suspected armed CPI-M cadres killed seven villagers in Lalgarh’s Netai village on January 7.

According to reports, Governor Narayanan may also visit Jhalda in Purulia district, where seven workers of the Forward Bloc, including a woman, were shot dead by Maoists on December 16.

The Governor had on Thursday summoned Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh to discuss the law and order situation in the state following the Lalgarh violence.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court will today decide on a petition asking for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killings in Lalgarh’s Netai village.

West Bengal Home Secretary GD Gautam on Thursday filed an affidavit saying no CBI inquiry is needed as the CID is already investigating the case.

The affidavit would be placed before the court of Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice A K Roy when the PIL, filed by the Calcutta High Court Bar Association, would be taken up for hearing.

Earlier, the High Court had asked the Bengal government to specify its stand on joint operation of central and state forces against Maoist camps in Lalgarh.

Six villagers, including a woman were killed and over 20 injured in firing by suspected armed CPI-M cadres here on January 7.

The villagers, who had gathered to protest against demands made by Marxist armed cadre that they volunteer for night patrols and arms training, were fired at from a house at Netai village in Belatikri gram panchayat in Lalgarh police station area. (ANI)