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party’s drubbing in the West Bengal assembly election.

Speaking at a protest programme in Kolkata’s Dharmatala area, Mamata said West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force had arrested suspects who had entered the state through the Meghalaya border after a murder in Bangladesh that had triggered widespread protests.

Without naming the case, she said, “A major killer from Bangladesh was arrested by our STF. There were massive protests in Bangladesh over the incident. I have no right to comment on another country’s internal affairs, but I can say that the accused entered West Bengal through the Meghalaya border and were arrested by our STF. It was a credit to the police.”

According to a video posted by BBC, Mamata claimed that after the arrests, Amit Shah personally called her and requested that the matter not be made public.

“He told me to instruct the state police not to let it go outside because it concerned the country.”

Addressing Shah, Mamata asked, “Who had the murder carried out? Whose names came up? Even though the government has changed, I know everything. My heart is a repository of information.

“I have kept mum for so long. But now the oppression has crossed all limits, forcing me to speak out. I don’t want to reveal the names because Bangladesh would be thrown into turmoil. I love Bangladesh. For the sake of the country, I will not name them.”

The Daily Star has emailed the office of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and Indian High Commission in Dhaka last night and awaits response.