CM may meet Dulal widow during Malda visit next week
Times of India | 18 January 2025
123 Kolkata/Malda: CM Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Chaitali Sarkar, whose husband Dulal, Trinamool's Malda vice-president, was gunned down on Jan 2. Banerjee's visit to Malda is scheduled for next week.
On Friday, DGP Rajeev Kumar, who went to Malda, met Chaitali and told reporters that "investigations were progressing properly". After the murder, Banerjee sharply criticised the role of police, questioning why Dulal's security was withdrawn two years ago.
Banerjee will visit Murshidabad, Malda and Alipurduar from Monday. She will hold administrative meetings and hand over various services to beneficiaries of social security schemes. The CM is likely to be in Murshidabad on Jan 20 and then visit Malda the same day, an official said.
Banerjee would inaugurate several projects in Murshidabad. The official added that there were chances of declaration of a new district carved out from Murshidabad. There were already proposals for forming Jangipur and Kandi as new districts, he added.
After her administrative meeting in Malda, Banerjee will head to Alipurduar. She will be at Subhashini tea estate on Jan 23 to celebrate Netaji's birthday at Hasimara, Kalchini block in Alipurduar. On Jan 22, the CM will hold an administrative meeting at Alipurduar parade ground.
Within hours of DGP Kumar visiting Malda, police arrested Zakir Sk, a history-sheeter, for the murder of TMC worker Ataur Sk (38) on Jan 15. According to the FIR, Zakir and his aides attacked TMC area president Bakul Sk and his brother Esaruddin, a gram panchayat member. While the brothers survived the attack, Ataur died on the spot.
Seven persons, including an expelled TMC Malda Town president, Narendranath Tiwari, have been arrested for Dulal's murder.
English Bazaar municipality chairperson Krishnendu Choudhury met Kumar. Choudhury said: "I have talked about the need for more CCTVs in the municipal area along with police involvement in traffic control.."
The DGP also visited Mahadipur Land Port at Bangladesh border and talked with exporters.