The tragic death of Tapasi Malik at the Nano site in Singur in 2006 led to suspicions of CPI(M) cadre involvement and sparked public outcry and demands for justice, resulting in a CBI enquiry. The Chandannagore Court’s findings and sentencing reflect the seriousness of the crimes committed.
The CPI(M)’s response, alleging bias in the CBI investigation, has added complexity to the sensitive matter. It is crucial for all parties to respect the legal process and cooperate fully for a fair examination. Furthermore, statements from CPI(M) members have been viewed as insulting and biased. The pursuit of truth and justice is essential in this case to uphold principles of accountability and integrity.
Tan Moy || The half-burnt body of 18-year-old Tapasi, a farmer’s daughter at Singur, who was at the forefront of the agitation of the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee floated by the Trinamool Congress after land acquisition for the Tata Motors Nano project, was found on December 18, 2006, at Bajemelia.
CPI(M) has the blood of Tapasi Malik on its hands
The brutal rape and murder of Tapasi Malik, an 18-year-old girl and a dedicated member of the Save Farmland Committee in Singur, caused shock and outrage in West Bengal. The Save Farmland Committee accused the CPI(M) cadre, who also served as night-guards for the fenced-off area of land earmarked for Tata’s factory in Singur, of being involved in her tragic death. Amid strong protests, the CBI took up the investigation.
Despite the efforts of CPI(M) leaders and the police to dismiss the incident as a suicide or the result of a love affair, the public outcry persisted. Debu Malik, a prominent figure, appeared on several TV channels claiming to have witnessed Tapasi carrying a can of kerosene towards the fenced-off area. Additionally, some intellectuals associated with the CPI(M) attempted to introduce new angles to the story.
The unfolding of events surrounding Tapasi Malik’s death revealed a deeply distressing and sensitive matter, sparking significant public outcry and demands for justice. The suspicion surrounding the involvement of CPI(M) cadre in her killing and the subsequent attempts to discredit her character further exacerbated the gravity of the situation. The pursuit of truth and justice in this case is paramount, and all involved parties need to fully cooperate with the CBI investigation to ensure a fair and thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding Tapasi Malik’s untimely demise.
The tragic outcome of the case and the subsequent reactions, including the findings of the Chandannagore Court and the CPI(M)’s response, have added layers of complexity to this already sensitive matter. The pursuit of truth and justice must prevail, and it is crucial for all parties involved to respect the legal process and cooperate fully, ensuring a fair and thorough examination of the case. This is a pivotal moment for demonstrating integrity and commitment to upholding the principles of justice and accountability.
At its core, the pursuit of truth and justice must prevail, and it is crucial for all parties involved to respect the legal process and cooperate fully, ensuring a fair and thorough examination of the case. This is a pivotal moment for demonstrating integrity and commitment to upholding the principles of justice and accountability.
Take a look at what CPI(M) organ Peoples Democracy, 6 May 2007 had to say about the CBI investigation:
“New and definitive light has been shed on the murder of a young woman named Tapasi Malik. Tapasi was done away brutally nearly five months ago one early morning on December 8 and her remains stuffed in a hole within the limits of the automobile factory that is coming up at Singur. Her body was set on fire and was partially burnt. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the case now believes that the young woman’s father and brother might have had something to do with her murder…. In all probability, the duo will be subjected to sophisticated probing techniques as narco-analysis, brain-mapping and DNA testing. …The father-and-son may also be subjected to a ‘lie-detector’ or ‘polygraph’ test.”
Sudhanva Deshpande and Vijay Prashad, both intellectuals defending CPI(M), wrote in Counterpunch, May 23, 2007:
“Stories were blown out of context, and allegations flew around (sexual assaults, murders) that have since been shown to be false. The most sensational was the murder of a young woman, Tapasi Malik, who had been a leader in the Singur struggle against the land acquisition. The blogs and the capitalist media blamed this death on the CPM. The Central Bureau of Investigation is now of the view that she was killed by her father and brother.”
The Tapasi Malik Case: Uncovering the Truth
The Tapasi Malik case has unearthed a distressing and deeply troubling chain of events. Allegations have surfaced, indicating the involvement of local CPI(M) leadership in orchestrating the heinous crime as a punitive measure against a teenager standing up for her family’s livelihood.
The disassociation of Debu Malik by CPI(M) leader Binay Kongar, underlining him as a “supporter/voter” rather than a “member” of the party, is a notable development. Meanwhile, the arrest of Suhrid Datta and the potential arrest of Dibakar Das have seemingly tempered the usually unwavering demeanor of Binay Kongar.
Furthermore, this unfortunate incident has laid bare the fallacious narratives propagated by CPI(M)-aligned intellectuals. Their dissemination of falsehoods in a manner reminiscent of Goebbelsian propaganda, with the belief that repetition can transform a lie into the truth, has been exposed.
The unraveling of these events underscores the need for a steadfast pursuit of truth and justice. As this case continues to unfold, it is imperative for all involved parties to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency, ensuring a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding Tapasi Malik’s tragic demise. The importance of respecting the legal process and cooperating fully with the investigation cannot be overstated.
The implications of this case resonate deeply, calling for a resolute commitment to integrity and the upholding of justice. This pivotal moment demands unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth and delivering due justice for Tapasi Malik.
For additional information on the arrest of Suhrid Datta and the potential arrest of Dibakar Das, we recommend following trusted news sources for the latest updates on this unfolding situation.
A year after Tapasi’s murder, CPI(M)’s CC Member Benoy Konar insulted Tapasi and her family, displaying his trademark sexist bias as well as class bias, saying “Earlier, Tapasi’s father would sell fish at a market in Chinsurah. He had no agricultural plots. Tapasi was a burden on him because she was unmarried. But now he is touring several places in the country. It seems money can buy even conscience and ethics.”
The CPI(M) has the blood of Tapasi Malik on its hands. We cannot forget or forgive this heinous crime, nor the shameful lies and sexist canards that the CPI(M) heaped on her memory to hide its crimes.
Burnt alive, says post-mortem
Telegraph India || Singur/Calcutta, Dec. 19: Tapasi Malik, whose burning body was found on the land fenced off for the Tata project in Singur early yesterday, was first strangled, then hit on the head with a heavy object and, as she fell unconscious, was dragged to a pit nearby and set on fire.
These are the findings of the post-mortem carried out last evening. According to the report, the 18-year-old was alive when she was set ablaze. “The girl was burnt to death,” home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said. “But there is no indication in the report that suggests she was sexually assaulted.”
Tapasi, who was part of the Save Farmland Committee protesting against the acquisition of land for the Tata project, had struggled to escape from the clutches of her killers before they overpowered her and hit her on the head, officials said.
The post-mortem report says there are bruises on her body and a tuft of her hair has been found some distance from the pit where she was burnt. The fact that her tongue was sticking out when she was found indicates an attempt to strangle her, they added.
While police are groping for clues to the identity of the killers, or even the motive, they believe this was “no ordinary killing”.
“The brutality is so stark that it points to vengeance and extreme hatred,” an official said. “She could have been killed at the spot where she was struck on the head — a few more blows would have done the job. Instead, the killers took the trouble of dragging her a 100 metres and then setting her on fire.”
Yesterday morning, Tapasi had stepped out of her home at Bajemelia in Singur’s Gopalnagar mouza around 4.30 am to relieve herself. But the spot where the struggle took place — indicated by the tuft of hair and her torn slippers — is far beyond the spot she would normally visit every morning.
What made her travel so far? Did she meet people she knew and go with them some distance before they turned on her?
The police brought a sniffer dog to the spot this morning which, after smelling the slippers and the area around it, headed towards the fence and away from Tapasi’s village. “This could mean the attackers had come from outside as it is possible to get in through the fencing,” an official said.
The police said they had no cause to believe any villager had reason to harm Tapasi. “We are speaking to people who knew her well but no one has told us anything particularly controversial about her,” an official said.
Beyond life, she has become controversial with Mamata Banerjee turning her murder into an occasion for calling a two-day bandh. The chief minister has given the go-ahead for a CBI probe, as demanded by Mamata, but the bandh is still on.
Mamata would call off the bandh only if 500 acres “forcibly acquired” are returned.
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