In West Bengal, the CPM is deeply embarrassed about the life sentence for one of its party leaders, Suhrid Dutta, in the murder of Tapashi Mallik of Singur in 2006. The party has issued a statement saying that it cannot accept the verdict and will challenge it in a higher court. However, the party is only pleading Suhrid Dutta's cause. Another party worker, Debu Mallik convicted in the same case, finds no place in the party's statement.