Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jun 4: Fresh legal trouble has emerged for former West Bengal chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee after an FIR was registered against her over remarks linked to the murder of a Bangladeshi student leader.
The complaint was lodged at the Siliguri Cyber Crime Police Station by advocate Rinky Sen Chatterjee, who alleged that Banerjee made inflammatory and anti-national statements during a public gathering that could adversely affect relations between India and Bangladesh.
The controversy stems from a TMC protest held at Dharmatala on Jun 2. Addressing party workers, Banerjee claimed she was aware of the full conspiracy behind a high-profile murder in Bangladesh and knew the identities of those involved. However, she said she would not disclose the details publicly as it could trigger unrest in the neighbouring country.
Her remarks were widely interpreted as referring to the murder of Bangladeshi student leader Osman Bin Hadi, whose death had sparked significant attention in Bangladesh.
According to the complaint, Banerjee stated that the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) had arrested a key accused from Bangladesh after the suspect entered India through Meghalaya and later reached West Bengal. She also referred to statements made by the Union Home Minister and said she had remained silent for a long time before deciding to speak out.
The complainant alleged that the remarks indirectly linked India's Union Home Ministry and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the sensitive case and could create confusion regarding India's role in the matter.
In the complaint, Chatterjee argued that such statements had the potential to generate distrust and misunderstanding about India's position, thereby creating unnecessary diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Dhaka.
Authorities have not yet released detailed information regarding the progress of the investigation.
Osman Bin Hadi was reportedly murdered in Bangladesh in December last year. The case became politically sensitive, and according to official accounts, some of the accused later crossed into India through the Meghalaya border before reaching West Bengal, where they were arrested by the STF.
The arrests had earlier been cited in discussions concerning cross-border crime and security cooperation between India and Bangladesh.
The latest FIR is expected to intensify the political confrontation between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both parties frequently clashing on issues related to national security, border management and relations with neighbouring countries.
Political observers believe the case is being closely watched due to the sensitive nature of India-Bangladesh relations and the continuing debate over border security and illegal cross-border movement, key political issues in West Bengal.