KOLKATA: After nearly three decades of being in the cold storage, the hearing in the nearly three-decade-old case of attempt to murder Mamata Banerjee will finally begin at Alipore Court in the city on February 6.
The West Bengal Chief Minister’s lawyer Shyamdas Gangopadhyay, citing security reasons, demanded that the hearing be conducted through video-conferencing, defence attorney Ganesh Maity sought physical presence of the people concerned with the case as he wanted to question the witnesses and submit important documents related to the case.
Sixth Additional District Judge Rajesh Kumar Singh posted the hearing to decide on the matter for February 6.
The incident dates back to August 16, 1990 when Mamata was a firebrand Congress leader.
The prime accused, CPM youth wing leader Lalu Alam, had hit Mamata on the head with a lathi (baton) during a procession at Hazra Crossing in Kolkata. The impact of the blow had fractured her skull and she was in hospital fighting for life for over one month.
While 10 people were booked in the case, all nine accused except Lalu went into hiding. The police completed the investigation and submitted the chargesheet at the Alipore court while issuing arrest warrants against the absconders. The statements of Mamata and the witnesses were recorded, but the case went on at snail’s pace. The Opposition alleged that the then Left Front government did not want a speedy trial in the case.
Soon after Mamata, who later quit the Congress, and founded the Trinamool Congress, uprooted the 34-year Left Front rule in West Bengal in 2011, 54-year-old Alam met her and apologised for his action stating that he was forced by CPM to attack her. She, however, refused to pardon him and pursued with the case.
Case History
On August 16, 1990, prime accused CPM youth wing leader Lalu Alam had hit Mamata Banerjee on the head with a lathi during a rally at Hazra Crossing in Kolkata
The impact had fractured Banerjee’s skull and she had to fight for her life in hospital for over one month
While cases were booked against 10 accused, all nine, except Lalu Alam, went absconding
The statements of Mamata Banerjee and witnesses were recorded but the case progressed slowly with the court announcing a slew of dates