The Calcutta High Court has ordered the West Bengal Police’s Special Investigation Team to hand over the Birbhum violence case, which led to the death of eight people, including two children, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Court said circumstantial evidence and impact of the incident indicated that state police cannot probe the case.
The CBI will submit the status report to the court in a week. The next hearing will be on April 7.
Eight people in Bengal’s Birbhum were killed after their houses were set on fire on March 22. The incident occurred after the death of a TMC leader. The deceased included three women and two children. Among the deceased were a newly-wed couple, Lily Khatoon and Qazi Sajidur. The autopsy report reportedly stated that the victims had been thrashed before being burnt alive.
The incident prompted locals to flee the Bogtui village in Rampurhat where the violence occurred. The Bengal government formed an SIT and at least 20 people were arrested. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the families of the victims.
The Calcutta High Court had directed the state to install CCTV cameras in the presence of the district judge and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance of the scene of the occurrence. It also directed a forensic team from Delhi to collect evidence immediately from the spot for examination and told the state to ensure witnesses are protected.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/birbhum-violence-case-cbi-probe-calcutta-hc-order-1929334-2022-03-25
