From our Correspondent

SILCHAR, Jan 7: Reiterating its demand for CBI probe into Pritam murder case, the ‘Justice for Pritam’ forum will meet two MPs of Barak Valley- Kabindra Purkaystha and Lalit Mohan Sukhlavaidya- to raise the issue in the next session of the Parliament. Besides, the forum will stage street drama at different corners of the Valley with a view to arise the voice of protest of the people. Addressing a press meet held here at Banga Bhawan, the members of the Forum announced their future course of action in the issue. They also shared the information received from Binoy Kumar, IG, Railways, Bihar, regarding the present status of the investigation into Pritam Bhattacharjee, a student of Physics, murder case.

It can be recollected here that Pritam Bhattacharjee, son of Shankar Bhattacharjee, a resident of Silchar, while travelling from Guwahati to Delhi by Awadh Assam Express was kidnapped by the miscreants on July 9, 2012. Pritam, who had boarded S 10 coach of the express, had a scuffle with some people travelling with him in the same bogie. As the train approached Naugachia railway station, the goons snatched his bag. He made the last call to his family telling them that he had missed the train at Naugachia station. Since then he remained untraced and his mobile phone was switched off. Later, his mutilated body was found on July 15 on the railway track under Kataria overbridge, 12 km away from Naugachia railway station.

Somyadeep Roy Chowdhury, one of the active members of the Forum and a friend of Pritam briefed the information which they received from Binoy Kumar, IG, Department of Railways, Bihar, according to which the police had brought a few culprits to book and the investigation was going on. Roy Chowdhury said that Bihar police had first arrested a person named Chuto Sahani. After receiving the information from Sahani, following thorough interrogation, the police had arrested a few other culprits identified as Rajesh Mandal, Balmiki Razzak and Chandan Kumar Saha for being allegedly involved in the heinous crime. Roy Chowdhury said as per the information given by Binoy Kumar, Rajesh, Balmiki and Chandan boarded the same bogie in which Pritam was travelling. As the train was entering Naugachia Railway station, Chandan Kumar Saha suddenly snatched the bag from Pritam and leaped from the train on the second platform of the station. Pritam tried to chase them and got down at the station where he met Bijoy Mandal, one of the close aides of the criminals, who pretended to help him. Thereafter, two other aides of them- Chuto Sahani and Nepali Singha- kidnapped Pritam and took him to Makkhatakia village by a Bolero car. After five days, they again brought him near Katharia over-bridge where Pritam was murdered. Nepali Singha admitted during the interrogation by the police that he had killed Pritam. Somyadip said that the police did not disclose the number of the Bolero car in the interest of the investigation.

Dipak Bhattachrjee, former MLA and the secretary of the Forum, made a request to all the elected representatives of the Valley to raise the issue in the Assembly and Parliament. Shankar Bhattacharjee, father of Pritam, demanded CBI probe and said that he did not have any faith on Bihar police as Pritam initially approached them at Naugachia station, but did not receive any help. Among others present at the press meet included Bhaswati Paul, Prasantha Bhattacharjee, Abida Chowdhury, Dipak Sengupta, Bibek Biswas.