The Calcutta High Court on Friday heard the case of violence during Ram Naami in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. During this period, the court ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit a report. It was also asked whether the investigation in this matter should be transferred to the Central Authority.
The court also noted that the Superintendent of Police, Murshidabad district, in his report had mentioned the alleged use of bombs and other weapons in the clashes at Baldanga and Shaktipur on April 13 and 17, due to which people were injured.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam directed the NIA to submit a report on the clashes and other allegations in the two PILs and the alleged use of bombs. It was also assumed that the report should state whether the FIRs registered in connection with the conflicts should be handed over to the central agency or not. Let us tell you, Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharya was also included in the bench.
The case will be heard on May 10
The court ordered that the next hearing in the case will be held on May 10. By then the report has to be submitted. Apart from this, the NIA has also been asked to respond to the serious allegations raised by Additional Solicitor General Ashok Kumar Chakraborty, representing the central government.
Earlier, the court directed the Murshidabad Superintendent of Police and CID to file an affidavit. Following that order, the police chief and M.D. submitted an affidavit.
The court expressed displeasure
The court expressed its displeasure over the clashes during the Ram Nami celebrations, on April 23 that it may have to move before the Election Commission a proposal to postpone the elections in Harampur constituency as the incidents took place during this period. Hearing two petitions seeking to probe the clashes with the CBI and the NIA, the court said that when the model code of conduct is in force, if two types of people are fighting each other, then they do not need any elected representative in elections and problems will arise.
Amiya Sarkar, Kolkata zonal convener of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and SA Afzal, Rashtriya Manch Muslim zonal convener, West Bengal and Sikkim, are the petitioners in both the PILs.
