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CBI, Special Team To Probe Post-Poll Violence In Bengal: Calcutta HC

The Court also said that Soumen Mitra, Commisioner of Kolkata Police, will also be part of that special team.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday said inquiries into post-poll violence in West Bengal will be conducted by a special team to be set up by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A five-member bench of the high court headed by acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal had reserved its verdict on the matter on August 3.

The Court also said that Soumen Mitra, Commisioner of Kolkata Police, will also be part of that special team.

After the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress swept the assembly election, goons of the party attacked women members, killed workers, vandalised houses and looted shops and offices belonging to the saffron party, the BJP had alleged.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), tasked with probing the post-poll violence in West Bengal had submitted its final report to Calcutta High Court on July 15. The report had termed the situation in the state a manifestation of the law of the ruler instead of the rule of law.

“This was retributive violence by supporters of the ruling party against supporters of the main opposition party,” the report had said, recommending that the investigation in grievous crimes like rape and murder be handed over to the CBI.

Representing the West Bengal Police, Kapil Sibal had argued that the NHRC’s report was “politically motivated” and that some members of the fact-finding committee had links to the BJP.

The ruling TMC has maintained that the reports have been greatly exaggerated, with fake videos and images, and most of the incidents of violence that took place around the May 2 counting day happened when the state police were under the control of the Election Commission.

 

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