Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of several Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) leaders, accused of murdering three ruling CPI(M) supporters in Nandigram on November six, the day the Left party began their recapture of the area.

BUPC, which was protesting the West Bengal government's attempt to acquire agricultural land for an SEZ, were accused of triggering a landmine explosion and gunning down three persons at Bhangaberia village. The victims were identified as Sankar Maity, Tushar Shaw and Nirapada.

Abu Sufian, BUPC Secretary Abu Taher, committee member Sabuj Pradhan and 17 others had moved anticipatory bail applications before the high court, fearing arrest as they were accused of murder. Their counsel Uttam Majumdar pleaded that the three persons who died were CPI(M) goons and that bombs, which they were carrying in a bag, had exploded injuring them mortally.

He submitted that his clients were being framed and that they had no role to play in the deaths. Public prosecutor Ashimesh Goswami told the bench that there were eyewitnesses and that the accused persons were previously involved in attacks on CPI(M) supporters. A Division Bench comprising Justices D P Sengupta and P K Deb, after hearing both the parties, rejected the anticipatory bail petition.

Source : PTI