Sitalkuchi probe: Local court summons six Central Industrial Security Force personnel on November 16

A local court in Coochbehar on Monday summoned six Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel on November 16 after they failed to respond to the summons by the CID thrice in connection with the Sitalkuchi investigation by the state agency.

After coming to power, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government has ordered a CID probe into the firing incident in Sitalkuchi where four people were killed during poll day.

The Court has asked the six CISF personnel to give attendance in the court on November 16 as they failed to respond to the CID summons. The CID has summoned them thrice in connection with the investigations and then moved court, sources said.


The six CISF personnel, including Deputy Commandant Deepak Kumar, Inspector Sunil Kumar and Nityananda Das, among others were summoned by the state agency. After the first summon, the CISF has reportedly informed the CID that they were suffering from COVID and were quarantined. However, after summoning them twice, they did not respond to the summon, following which CID moved court, sources said.

During the fourth phase of assembly polls on April 10, the CISF had opened fire at polling station No. 126 in Sitalkuchi leading to the deaths of four people. Mamata Banerjee ordered a CID probe into the matter after taking oath as CM.

Notably, four people were killed when the CISF personnel opened fire in “self-defence” in Cooch Behar district's Sitalkuchi assembly constituency’s booth 126, allegedly after coming under attack from locals who “attempted to snatch their rifles”.

Post-Sitalkuchi incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the victims and said that she will give justice to the victims of the CAPF firing and initiate a probe once she comes to power.