Kolkata, 20 January (H.S.)S : A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted the Union government the liberty to order a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incidents of violence and tension that rocked Beldanga in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal for two days last week. The unrest had reportedly erupted following protests over the alleged murder of a migrant worker from the district in Jharkhand.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, also directed that Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel continue to be deployed in Beldanga until complete normalcy is restored in the area. The court observed that, if necessary, additional CAPF companies may also be deployed to maintain law and order.
The Bench further instructed the state government to ensure the most effective and appropriate use of central forces in the affected and sensitive areas.
These directions were issued after a detailed hearing on a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, who had sought the deployment of CAPF personnel in Beldanga as well as an NIA investigation into the incidents.
The court also directed the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Murshidabad to file affidavits within 15 days, taking responsibility for ensuring the safety of lives and property in the region.
Earlier, Suvendu Adhikari had written to West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, seeking his intervention in view of the continued tension in Beldanga. He had also moved the Calcutta High Court through the Public Interest Litigation.
In his communication to the Governor, the Leader of the Opposition alleged that the state and district administration failed to control the unruly mob that allegedly went on a rampage in Beldanga from Friday afternoon and continued the violence until Saturday afternoon. He further alleged that journalists covering the incidents, including women reporters, were seriously assaulted while performing their official duties.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
