Bengal CID takes over probe into poll official's death

The Criminal Investigation Department of West Bengal Police has taken up a probe into the mysterious death of a presiding officer in the Panchayat polls, a police officer said on Thursday.

However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that he was run over by a train.

Rajkumar Ray, presiding officer at a polling booth in Raiganj of Uttar Dinajour district, went missing on Monday evening.

Roy's mutilated body was found near the eastern railway track at Raiganj station by the Government Railway Police.

His wife Arpita Burman filed a police complaint suspecting foul play and alleging that her husband has been a victim of the poll violence, said a police officer.

"She believes that it is neither an accident nor suicide, her husband has been murdered for doing his duty honestly," the officer said.

The investigation was handed over to the CID after angry polling personnel demonstrated.

Banerjee told the media at the state secretariat Nabanna: "It was an accident. The driver of the train himself reported about the accident."

She announced that her government would extend help to Roy's family.

"His family will get compensation from the Railways. But we will also do something, after all, he was our officer who was on poll duty and died in an accident."

State BJP President Dilip Ghosh condoled Roy's death.

"My deepest condolences to the family members of Rajkumar Roy. May his Soul rest in Peace," he tweeted.

--IANS

bnd/ssp/him/bg