AGARTALA, Oct 1 (TIWN): After 10 days of brutal murder on Sept 20 at Mandai, CPI-M controlled Tripura Police arrested only two drug addicts and failed to conduct any proper investigation. In spite of Rs 10 lakhs compensation and promise of SIT (Special Investigation Team) formation, Journalists and common public has no trust in Tripura Police as it failed to crack a single brutal murder case in past 2 decades. Under Chief Minister’s instructons, Tripura ICA Minister Bhaulal Saha rejected CBI's intervention into Journalist Santanu Bhowmik murder case. In a press conference Bhanulal Saha said, "SIT is being set for Santanu murder case and CBI investigation is right now not needed". This announcement has triggered mass resentment among the journalists, who have lost their friend in CPI-M, IPFT clash. CPI-M Govt neither questioned any IPFT leaders, nor interested in proper investigation which only can be done by an impartial CBI probe.

Demand ing CBI probe in brutally killed journalist Santanu Bhowmik's murder case, Tripura journalists undertaken mass agitation at Mandai but Govt has no interest in CBI investigation.

Team of journalists had protested on the exact spot where Santanu was murdered on Sep-20. The agitation was shown when ICA Minister announced about the SIT probe to Santanu murder case.

Tripura Cabinet discussed the murder and decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a senior Indian Police Service officer to probe it," Information and Finance Minister BhanulalSaha told reporters after the cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio.

"As his mother is a government employee and his younger sister is still studying, the government, despite its willingness, is unable to offer a government job to Santanu's family," Saha added.

About a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or a High Court Judge, as demanded by journalists' organisations and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, the Minister said the SIT probe had been decided on after a review of the progress of the probe in the case.

"People must keep faith in police's ability in handling such cases. We hope the police will be able to provide justice to the victim's family," he added.

Police officials told  that so far three people, including main accused Sachin Debbarma, have been arrested for the killing of the journalist.

Sachin, a surrendered militant of National Liberation Front of Tripura and currently a member of tribal outfit Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), was involved in crime in Mandai area in western Tripura where the journalist was killed, police said.

Meanwhile, the situation returned to normal on Tuesday in most parts of west Tripura and Khowai districts where IPFT supporters have allegedly carried out a series of attacks since September 19, including the one in which the 28-year-old journalist was killed.

However, police said, 29-year-old driver Jiban Debnath of a private vehicle was still missing since September 20 and a search was on for him.

Tripura Govt's rejection of CBI probe clearly indicates CPI-M's involvement with criminal elements behind Sanatnu's murder.