West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced that the findings of the Justice Susanta Chatterjee Commission, which investigated the 1993 July 21 police firing incident that killed 13 Youth Congress workers, would be made public later in the day. The announcement was made during the opening day of the extended Budget Session of the West Bengal Assembly, with the Chief Minister stating that the report would be presented before the people based on available evidence.

The Justice Susanta Chatterjee Commission was constituted by the previous Trinamool Congress government after it came to power in 2011 to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths during the protest rally. Adhikari said the release of the report would reveal the extent to which the recommendations of the retired judge-led commission were implemented by the previous administration. He said the findings would provide clarity on the actions taken after the inquiry.

The report’s release comes a day before the annual Martyrs’ Day programmes observed on July 21 to commemorate those who died in the 1993 incident. The event has traditionally been associated with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who was leading the protest movement at the time as a Congress leader. The upcoming observance has also become politically significant amid divisions within the Trinamool Congress.

Also Read: Report Says Mojtaba Khamenei’s First Foreign Contact May Be With Putin

The July 21, 1993 incident occurred when Mamata Banerjee, then a Congress leader, led a protest march towards Writers’ Buildings, the former state secretariat of West Bengal. The procession was stopped by police, and officers allegedly opened fire on the protesters, resulting in the deaths of 13 Youth Congress workers. The incident became a major political issue in the state and has remained a central part of Mamata Banerjee’s political narrative.

Since then, Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress have observed July 21 as Martyrs’ Day to honour those who lost their lives in the firing. The Congress party has also organised separate programmes on the occasion. However, the annual event has faced political controversy over the years, with parties debating responsibility and the handling of the incident.

The controversy has also involved former Indian Administrative Service officer Manish Gupta, who was West Bengal Home Secretary at the time of the police firing. Gupta later joined the Trinamool Congress, contested elections as a party candidate, served in the Mamata Banerjee-led cabinet and became a Rajya Sabha member. He recently announced his decision to leave politics, adding another dimension to discussions surrounding the historic incident.

Also Read: PM Modi’s Three-Nation Visit Offers Key Lessons For Bangladesh, Says Report