CPM worker hurt in lathicharge dies

Kolkata: The death of an aged CPI(M) worker from Dum Dum, who was allegedly injured in the lathicharge by the police during the violence at the Left Front protest rally called “March to Nabanna”, prompted the party to blame the police.

Salil Basu (60), popularly known as Bablu, was a resident of ward no 21 of the South Dum Dum municipality. He participated in the rally on May 22 and suffered head injuries, according party sources. Basu returned home but took part in the next protest rally and suffered a cerebral attack. He was rushed to R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital where he died on Sunday. The Kolkata police however brushed aside the allegation.

Additional commissioner of police (III) Supratim Sarkar said, “It is being alleged by certain quarters that one Salil Basu, a 60-year-old supporter of a political party, has succumbed today at R.G. Kar hospital to injuries suffered during police lathicharge on 22nd May, the day the concerned party gave a call for “ Nabanna Avijaan”. He added, “It is being claimed that he had ignored the injury and participated in the protest rally the day after; subsequently fell sick and got admitted in hospital. This is false propaganda at its worst. The medical records prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the gentleman was admitted at R.G. Kar Hospital on May 25 with a history of a fall in his bathroom.”

Mr Sarkar said that he passed away on Sunday, due to hemerrohagic stroke.