Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday demanded either a judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a CBI inquiry into the Stephen Court blaze to find out if there was any negligence on the part of the state government.
"I understand the state government has announced setting up of an inquiry committee. But it will be an internal inquiry by the state government. Truth must come out. So many people have lost their lives," Banerjee said. "There should be a judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge or the state government should hand over the probe to the CBI," she told reporters here.
Saying the incident was very serious and responsibility had to be fixed, the railway minister alleged that in the name of DNA testing to identify bodies, a 'jugglery' was taking place. Though the death toll in the tragic incident is put at 33, an attempt is being made to hide more bodies suggested by finding of torn limbs from the fire-ravaged building, she said. Banerjee today participated in a silent procession of citizens from Birla Planetarium to Stephen Court where mourners lighted candles in memory of the victims. PTI
The trip came just two days after a threatening new audio message from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, believed to be hiding along the ungoverned border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The White House made no advance announcement of the visit, which officials said had been long desired by the president but delayed by weather and other logistical obstacles. (AP)
