Birbhum killings have taken a huge political shift and rift between government and opposition majorly because the way situation was handled and the political affiliations of the people killed. In reality, what occurred in Baktui village, Birbhum district, was merely a case of political radicalism and animosity.
It all started with the assassination of Badu Sheikh, TMC’s Deputy Pradhan, for which no one knows who was responsible; this assassination caused rioting in the hamlet, killing eight people and injuring many more.
Witnesses described scenes of houses being set on fire and people fleeing the area to save their lives following that terrifying night.
The State Government appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the situation, and the SIT also detained 22 people.
But, after repeated opposition pressure and the High Court taking Suo Moto cognizance of the occurrence, the HC directed the CBI to take control of the matter and the SIT to transfer all case files and the arrested suspects to the CBI.
However, politics has already permeated this probe, with the opposition accusing the TMC of refusing to cooperate with the CBI and the TMC accusing the BJP of influencing the federal agency and the investigation.
Earlier this week, Opposition events BJP and CPI(M) welcomed the Calcutta High Court’s order of handing over the investigation of Birbhum killings to CBI.
The TMC stated that it’s going to provide complete cooperation and abide with the Court’s order and will provide assistance to CBI on whatever is required. A forensic crew of the CBI, on Friday reached Rampurhat to start its investigation and reportedly has also set up temporary office there.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to Bogtui village on Thursday, where she promised “quick justice” to the victims and announced financial compensation.
Opposition leaders, on the other hand, have accused the Bengal government of covering up the incident and failing to take it seriously.
After residents protested to the Chief Minister that nearby Trinamool Congress block president Anarul Hussain was the mastermind behind the plot to torch the homes, she ordered the DGP to detain him.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari tweeted, “Can a person coach an investigating agency on how to handle a case? Rather than directing the investigating agency on how to conduct impartial investigation and acquire proof that incriminates the actual perpetrators, Mamta Banerjee is announcing & dictating who’re at fault.”
On the other hand, the ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday accused the BJP of attempting to steer the CBI probe into the killings in Bogtui village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. The saffron party on the opposite hand, alleged that the TMC has lost all credibility after the March 22 incident where women and children had been a few of the 8 who lost their lives.
“The BJP has forgotten the killings in Gujarat years back. It is now shedding crocodile tears for the Bogtui incident, where impartial investigation is already taken place. We iterate that the nation authorities are devoted to make sure justice to the sufferers is served no matter what is their political affiliation.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the location within days of the incident and met the sufferers‘ families. We are ok with a fair, unbiased and impartial CBI probe. However, from last one- days, there are warning signs that the BJP is making an attempt to steer the agency’s investigation for its very own political interest. We oppose the sort of move,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh informed reporters.
BJP nation spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya alleged that the ruling party withinside the state has “lost all credibility and acceptability” after the Bogtui incident and declined to touch upon the TMC’s charge.
Published By : Revathy G Sanal
Edited By : Subbuthai Padma
