The Court’s order : In the widely talked about case of Bagtui arson killing, the Calcutta High Court on Friday, 25th March 2022, ordered a CBI probe into the case.
Handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the High Court has ordered the CBI to submit the investigation status report by next hearing which is scheduled for April 7, 2022.
During the hearing, the court directed the West Bengal Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to hand over all case documents, accused, suspects as well as people who are in custody to the CBI.
Today the court said that the state police cannot probe the case any further due to circumstantial evidence and impact of the incident.
According to India Today report, the court said that it is essential for the court to hand over the case to CBI investigation, in order to inculcate confidence in the society on justice and to have a fair hearing investigation into the matter to dig out the truth.
The court further directed the state authorities to render full support and cooperation to the CBI throughout further investigation.
Bashing the West Bengal CM, Mamta Banerjee constituted SIT, the court slammed that they have closely examined the case dairy produced and the SIT did not contribute to the investigation significantly in spite of its constitution on March 22, 2022.
The court added that it has been noted in the case dairy that the police did not arrive to arson spot on time and the people inside the houses including two children kept on burning despite police station being near to the incident area.
Soon after the court’s order, the CBI’s forensic team reached the arson area of Rampurhat to start their investigation.
Earlier today, according to a news report published in India Today, six barrels of crude bombs recovered in Rampurhat, Birbhum district. From the News18 report, the total number of bombs recovered was 200.
Moreover, the local people affected due to the arson claim that the total number of persons killed in the massacre is 10 and not 8.
The Reaction of the Opposition:
The opposition party, BJP hailed the HC order for CBI probe into the violent Birbhum arson case which claimed the lives of 10 people. Various BJP leaders alleged that the state government constituted SIT was suppressing the case so as to prevent TMC leaders.
Today, after the HC order to hand over the case to CBI, as quoted by ANI, the BJP MP, Dilip Gosh said that everyone demanded for CBI probe and Everyone knows that the SIT was constituted to suppress the case. He also added that the CM is not accepting the failure of her government.
Nevertheless, Gosh on his yesterday’s tweet attacked TMC over the Birbhum arson violence. He questioned in his tweet that would justice prevail. He further tweeted, “… 200 BJP karyakartas (workers) were murdered by the ruling party TMC, No one got Justice. State Govt is not even cooperating with the CBI investigation.”
Amit Malviya, In-charge of BJP’s National Information & Technology Department and Co – In charge of BJP’s West Bengal unit, welcomed the HC order and tweeted, “… Mamata Banerjee’s admin and SIT constituted by the WB Government inspired no confidence whatsoever. It seemed more like a means to cover up the crime and protect TMC leaders involved in the ghastly killings.”
Adding on to the list, BJP MP, state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar welcomed the HC’s move and said that only CBI investigation can bring out the truth as the police acts as a representative for the ruling party, TMC.
Referring from various news reports, BJP MP, Roopa Ganguly had break down in Rajya Sabha today while discussing about the Birbhum violence.
She said in the Parliament that they demand President’s Rule in West Bengal since mass killings are happening and people are fleeing the place moreover the state is no more livable. The RS session was adjourned briefly after Ganguly’s uproar.
Published by : Aditya Andharia
Edited By : Kritika Kashyap
