Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe into WB post-poll violence incidents
Thursday, 19 August 2021 (14:12 IST)
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into the post-poll violence incidents in West Bengal.
All case details as required during further investigations should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the HC order said.
For other cases, the court has directed for setting up of an SIT to be headed by Suman Bora Sahu and two other police officers.
The larger bench of the court also ruled that the compensation to victims are given through direct bank accounts.
Further, no adverse action is to be taken without court direction.
A five-member bench court headed by acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal had reserved its verdict on August 3.
Several petitioners had moved the court alleging widespread violence post-state Assembly elections after (May 2) the Trinamool Congress returned to power for the third time in a row.
A committee of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had been formed as directed by the court to probe the various complaints of post-poll violence across Bengal. The victims and their family members had levelled allegations of murder, rape and destruction of property.
On July 15, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team had submitted its final report which termed the situation in the state a manifestation of the law of the ruler instead of the rule of law.
A seven-member committee set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had earlier looked into the incidents of violence following the West Bengal assembly elections and recommended a court-monitored CBI probe.
The Calcutta high court also directed that a separate Special Investigation Team (SIT), with senior officers from the West Bengal cadre, be set up to probe the other allegations cited by the NHRC committee.
This SIT will comprise three IPS officers -- Soumen Mitra (Police Commissioner), Suman Bala Sahoo, and Ranbir Kumar.
The proceedings shall be monitored by a retired judge of the Supreme Court; a detailed order regarding this will be issued later, the Calcutta high court said.
The report will have to be submitted within six weeks. (UNI)
