A CBI probe has been ordered by Calcutta High Court into grievous cases such as murder and rape in alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal.
A five-judge bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, on Thursday ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe all other offences related to the alleged post-poll violence. The probe will be will be monitored by the court.
It directed the central agency to file a report on its investigation in the next six weeks.
Also Read| Centre deputes 4-member team to probe post-poll violence in West Bengal
IPS officers Director General (Telecommunications) Suman Bala Sahoo, Kolkata Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar will be part of the SIT.
After the May 2 assembly election results, Bengal witnessed violence and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had then asked the ruling TMC Government for a report on the post-election violence targeting opposition political workers in the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had alleged that nine of its workers were killed in West Bengal after the state assembly poll results. BJP targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for violence targeting its members and supporters.
The West Bengal CM also alleged that BJP workers attacked her workers and that she was against violence.
The TMC has expressed unhappiness over the judgement. Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy said the Bengal government could “appeal to a higher court”.
Meanwhile, the BJP, has welcomed the court’s decision, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur saying that “there is no place for violence in a democracy”.
He told ANI, “We welcome the court’s decision. In a democracy everyone has the right to spread their ideology but one is allowed to spread violence. There is no place for violence in democracy,” he said.
The court had earlier directed the National Human Rights Commission, or NHRC, to carry out a preliminary inquiry.
