The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday submitted a 50-page report on alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal before a five-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court and recommended a CBI probe.
Hitting out at Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the NHRC said West Bengal has ‘rule of law’ and not ‘rule of law’.
Recommending a CBI inquiry into all cases of post-poll violence in Bengal, the NHRC urged the court that the trial should be outside the jurisdiction of West Bengal. The NHRC also noted that the Bengal Police was not cooperating and found them biased while dealing with the situation.
“The spatio-temporal extent of violent incidents in West Bengal reflects the appalling apathy of the state government towards the plight of the victims,” the NHRC report said.
It further read, “The violence was vengeful. This was in retaliation for those who dared to vote for or support the major opposition party. Victims were helpless and hopeless due to torture and trauma. To add to the outrage were reports of instances where heads were shaved or a public apology was made for ‘mistake’ in supporting the main opposition party.
Responding to the NHRC report, Mamata Banerjee said, “NHRC leaked the report first instead of presenting it before the High Court. I respect the court. it is unfortunate. NHRC should respect the court. If this is not political vendetta, how can they leak the report? They are defaming the people of Bengal and it is very disappointing.”
In its report, the NHRC also submitted a list of ‘notorious criminals/goons’ (names include TMC MLAs and district TMC workers) and urged the court to take adequate action against them.
Earlier on June 21, the Calcutta High Court turned down its request to withdraw or modify its direction, where it asked the NHRC to investigate all cases of alleged human rights violations during the post-poll violence in the state. was.
West Bengal Home Secretary BP Gopalika had on June 20 filed a petition seeking withdrawal or modification of the court’s order.
He requested the Calcutta High Court that the state government should be given an opportunity to investigate about 3,423 allegations made by the West Bengal Legal Services Authority (WBLSA) on June 10.
The state home department also emphasized that the allegations of police ‘inaction’ against complaints needed to be verified.
The bench had passed the order (asking the NHRC to investigate all post-poll violence) based on a note by the member secretary of the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority (WBSLSA), which said that 3,243 people were allegedly were affected (in the post-election violence) till the afternoon of 10 June 2021.
The bench directed the NHRC chairman to constitute a committee comprising one member each from the State Legal Services Authority and the State Human Rights Commission to look into the matter.
Recently, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar met NHRC chairman Arun Mishra to allegedly ‘address the post-poll violence’ in the state.
Then, both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Left Front condemned the move and claimed it as an ‘unprecedented act’ by any constitutional head of state.
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