Birbhum Violence | PIL In Calcutta High Court Alleges CM Mamata Banerjee "Influenced Witnesses" By Offering Jobs To Victims' Kin, Notice Issued

The Calcutta High Court on Monday sought the State government's response in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition questioning the conduct of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in extending compensation and government jobs for the kin of the victims of the violence that erupted in Birbhum district of West Bengal.

The incident, allegedly in retaliation to the murder of local All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bhadu Sheikh, claimed 8 lives including that of two children.

The Court vide order dated March 25 had ordered a CBI investigation into the incident of violence. Thereafter, on April 8, the Court had also directed the CBI to probe into the murder of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh, opining that the material on record prima facie suggests that there is a close relationship and linkage between the two incidents. 

On Monday, senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya appearing for the petitioner submitted before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj that the Chief Minister had attempted to 'influence witnesses' by handing over government jobs and compensation to the family members of the victims. 

It may be noted that two days after the incident of violence took place, the Chief Minister had reportedly visited the site of the killings and had announced compensation for the victims. She had distributed a part of the Rs 7-lakh compensation, including Rs 2 lakh for house repair, during the visit. The rest was given later. On April 4, the Chief Minister had handed over government job letters to 10 family members of the victims.

The senior counsel also contended before the Bench that the Chief Minister could not have announced such a compensation for the kin of the victims without first notifying a proper compensation scheme for such a purpose.

Taking cognisance of the grievance raised, the Court directed the State government to file an affidavit-in-opposition within 4 weeks. Any reply to such an affidavit-in-opposition was ordered to be filed by the petitioner within 2 weeks. 

The matter is listed for further hearing on July 26. 

Background 

The violence in Birbhum's Bogtui village took place following the alleged murder of Bhadu Sheikh, a panchayat leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress. He died after miscreants allegedly hurled bombs at him on March 21.

Hours later, violence erupted and several houses, including two belonging to the men accused of Sheikh's murder, were allegedly attacked and set on fire resulting in eight deaths, including that of women and children.

The police recovered eight charred bodies, primarily of women and children from the gutted houses in Bogtui village. Three victims were admitted to the local hospital. The death toll currently stands at nine.

Taking cognisance of the violence, the State government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the additional director general of police (CID), Gyanwant Singh, to probe the incident. However, subsequently, the investigation was handed over to the CBI pursuant to the directions of the Calcutta High Court.

As part of its investigation, the CBI has reportedly moved a local court to seek permission for conducting polygraph tests on eight people arrested in the case, including TMC leader Anarul Hossain.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, West Bengal calling for a detailed report in the matter within 4 weeks including the status for the FIRs registered in the matter, steps taken to ensure safety of the people in the village and any relief or rehabilitation provided by the State Government.

Case Title: Rokan Ali Molla v. State of West Bengal and Ors.