Mamata participates in rally to demand justice for Rizwanur

Kolkata, Oct 2 (IANS) Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Thursday participated in a rally taken out by residents of eastern Kolkata's Tiljala area in memory of Muslim youth Rizwanur Rahman who was found dead last year after marrying the daughter of a rich Hindu industrialist.

Other senior Trinamool Congress leaders, including local legislator Jawed Khan, also participated in the procession and demanded justice for Rizwanur's family.

'We want justice for the family members of Rizwanur Rahman. It was not a case of suicide. It was a deep-rooted conspiracy that led to the murder. We want the truth to be revealed,' Khan told reporters here.

He said the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front government of West Bengal was trying to shield the policemen involved in the case.

Khan is now in the centre of controversy since Rizwanur's suicide note, presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the city sessions court Wednesday, mentions him as one of the people who were 'morally and actually' responsible for his death.

Rizwanur, a 30-year-old graphic designer working with a multimedia firm, was found dead Sep 21 last year near the railway tracks in Kolkata's Patipukur area, barely a month after marrying Priyanka Todi - daughter of local industrialist Ashok Todi.

The civil society erupted in protest following allegations that some police officers, including then deputy police commissioner (detective department) Ajay Kumar, former assistant commissioner (anti rowdy section) Sukanti Chakraborty and sub-inspector Krishnendu Das had pressurised Rizwanur to separate from Priyanka at the behest of Ashok Todi.

The Calcutta High Court Aug 14 said Rizwanur was provoked to commit suicide last year and asked the CBI to file chargesheets in the lower court against six people - his in-laws Ashok and Pradip Todi, and four police officers - former deputy police commissioner (headquarters) Gyanwant Singh, Kumar, Chakraborty and Das.

The CBI, probing the case following a Calcutta High Court order, had stated in the chargesheet that Rizwanur committed suicide. It sought to proceed against seven people - Ashok and Pradip Todi, the Todi's relative Anil Sarogi, the Rehman's family friend Pappu and three police officers - on various charges for abetting it, for criminal intimidation and for conspiracy.

The city court Sep 22 issued summons to the seven accused after taking cognizance of a chargesheet filed by the CBI. The three police officers surrendered before the court Tuesday and were given interim bail Wednesday.