ABAVP calls 12-hour bandh in Dooars protesting Tigga’s death

SILIGURI, 15 MAY: The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) and its faction observed a 12-hour bandh in the Dooars today demanding judicial probe into the unnatural death of Shanti Tigga, the first Territorial Army woman jawan and recipient of President’s Award, in Alipurduar Railway Hospital, Jalpaiguri.

In order to unearth the motive behind Tigga’s mysterious kidnapping episode on the night of 9 May and her unnatural death in safe custody, political parties, including the CPI-M and the Congress, observed protest day in the Dooars, including Kalchini block, demanding a high-level inquiry into her unnatural death.

Tigga (37), who was at present working as a point-man of the railway department near Chalsa, committed suicide by hanging in a lavatory of Alipurduar Railway Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Another point-man, Samir Ranjan De (55), who was posted

at Savok under same railway jurisdiction, committed suicide by hanging at his home near New Jalpaiguri yesterday, police said.

Immediately after Tigga's abduction came to fore, railway officials started investigation against some railway employees, including Tigga.

An inspector associated with the Railway Protection Force in

Alipurduar, Mr S K Basu, started investigating and interacted with the Jalpaiguri Police on 13 May.

Another railway welfare officer came to meet Tigga and approached police to admit her to Alipurduar Railway Hospital for better treatment. Police registered the matter at Mateli Police Station.

Jalpaiguri Police had rescued her on 10 May and provided her adequate security at her house in Mendabari Tea Plantation and outside the railway hospital.

The ADRM of Alipurduar division, Mr B Lakhra, said the railway department had not started a departmental investigation against Tigga.

Mr Lakra said: “A group of political leaders prevented us from conducting a post-mortem of Tigga at the state-run hospital in Alipurduar.

Finally we decided to send her body to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.”

A group of Congress and ABAVP leaders started an agitation alleging she was murdered. They demanded proper investigation into the matter.

Angry leaders demanded adequate compensation for her family members and allowed railway officials to take her body after the officials, including Mr Lakra, assured the same.

The Jalpaiguri district CPI-M secretary, Mr Krishna Banerjee, said: “We observed a protest-day in the Dooars and to unearth the mystery behind her abduction we demand a judicial probe.”

The Jalpaiguri district Congress president, Mr Mohan Bose, said: “A fresh high-level inquiry is an imperative to reveal the mystery behind her abduction and unnatural death.”

Dooars-based ABAVP leader Rajesh Lakra said: “We suspect Tigga was killed owing to a lack of proper security inside the hospital. Her son would lodge a complaint with police demanding inquiry into the alleged murder of his mother.” Dissident ABAVP leader John Barla said: “Tigga was recipient of President’s Award. She was our pride in the society. However, the railway authorities did not make proper arrangement for her treatment at the hospital.”

statesman news service