Sunday, December 11 2005 16:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Agartala: Recovery of a skeleton of a teen aged girl from the septic tank of the official residence of Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar in January last has taken a new turn today with the opposition Congress demanding his resignation 'owning the responsibility of the murder'.

The president of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and former Chief Minister, Samir Ranjan Burman alleged that the girl was murdered when Sarkar was very much in possession of the residence and he can not evade the responsibility of murder when it took place in his official residence.

The TPCC president also demanded a CBI inquiry and interference of the Governor into the issue.

Meanwhile, Gautam Das, spokesperson of ruling CPI-M told reporters that the allegations of the TPCC president were completely baseless and aimed at tarnishing the good image of the chief minister.

He demanded immediate arrest of Burman for 'baseless allegations and influencing the ongoing investigation by the CID'.

The skeletal remains were recovered from the septic tank of the chief minister on January 4, 2005 and Sarkar took possession of the residence on March 20, 1998, Burman said.

An official statement here today said, considering the sensitivity of the matter the state government on the day of recovery of the skeleton took a decision to entrust the inquiry to CBI and next day the request was sent to the ministry of Personnel and Public Grievence. The government also entrusted CID for investigation.