Congress demands CBI probe into fire in Mamata Banerjee's hotel room

Malda: Congress demanded a CBI probe into the fire, which broke out in a hotel room on Thursday where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was staying while campaigning for April 24 Lok Sabha poll.
Union minister and WBPCC Chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told reporters on Friday after addressing an election meeting here that a CBI investigation could unravel the "mystery" behind the incident.

Although Trinamool Congress was saying that there was a "conspiracy" behind the fire, Chowdhury said it was "surprising" that no action was taken against the personnel who were in charge of Banerjee's security.

Describing the incident as "mysterious", Chowdhury said only a CBI probe could solve it.

Meanwhile, a Forensic team is arriving on Friday to examine the room and collect samples.

The fire officials and the district police were already examining the spot to ascertain the cause of the fire.

State Transport minister Madan Mitra reiterated on Friday that there was a 'conspiracy' behind the fire.

The conspirators should be identified, he said. Mitra, who was accompanying the Chief Minister in her campaigning, was staying on the third floor of the hotel with actor-politician Mithun Chakraborty when the fire broke out.

Banerjee had a narrow escape after the fire broke out.

The police said that the AC in the room caught fire while Banerjee was inside the toilet. She felt uneasy after inhaling the smoke and shouted the name of an aide who came to her rescue by pulling her out of the smoke-filled room.