The High Court of Calcutta on Thursday directed the National Investigation Agency to conduct a probe into the violence that took place in the districts of Howrah and Dalkhola districts, apart from other parts of West Bengal during the Ram Navami celebrations.
The Bench led by Acting Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam directed the West Bengal police to hand over all case papers, including FIRs and CCTV footage to the NIA within two weeks.
The High Court passed the order on a petition filed by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari seeking investigation by either CBI or NIA into the incident of violence during the Ram Navami celebrations.
Earlier this month, the High Court had observed that the State of West Bengal should have made adequate arrangements before permitting Ram Navami processions in areas which had previously witnessed violence.
The Bench of Acting Chief Justice T. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya directed the State to deploy adequate police forces in the affected regions, so as to ensure there was no more violence.
ACJ Sivagnanam told Advocate General SN Mookherjee to ensure that the State deployed adequate police force in these areas and ensure that general public, schools and shop owners were not affected by the violence.
The Court said this, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the violence which took place in Howrah and Dalkhola areas during Ram Navami celebrations.
AG Mookherjee told the Bench during the hearing that the situation in Howrah and Dalkhola districts was now under control.
The Counsel representing Adhikari, however, informed the Court that internet was still suspended in these two districts along with the areas adjoining Hooghly area.
ACJ Sivagnanam then asked the Attorney General if the situation was really under control as the suspension of internet was done in extreme cases.The ACJ further sought a report from the AG on the matter.
AG Mookherjee apprised the High Court that internet has been restored in Hooghly. He also requested the Court for giving permission to show certain videos, indicating how weapons were brandished by those participating in the procession.
The AG agreed that there were several violations of permissions granted by the authorities as there was use of weapons and firearms. DJ was being played beyond permissible decibels, he added.
He also said that in one case, there was a deviation from the permitted route.The AG agreed to file an affidavit and also a report on this.
The Counsel representing Adhikari countered that there was no deviation from the route, and that the conditions on which permission was granted, were followed.
The Counsel clearly mentioned that some of the places where violence broke out on March 30 this year, had witnessed similar violence last year as well.
Hearing the matter, the ACJ said in that case, the State should have been more careful in permitting rallies in such places that had witnessed violence even last year.
The ACJ also asked that if there were violations of the permission, then why the Police did not stop the rally there and then?”
AG Mookerjee, asked for time to respond to the queries of the Bench and for filing complete report on the action taken in this issue. He pointed out that over 35 arrests have already been made.
The counsel for Adhikari pointed mentioned that they have made representations to the Governor and also the Union Home Ministry to intervene into issue, and claimed that the State Police had miserably failed in controlling the situation.
The matter will be heard next on April 6.