Tripura High Court Expresses Concern Over Attack At Former CM Biplab Deb’s Residence, Says Police Could Have Been More Diligent

The court had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter on the basis of news reports published in the local newspapers with regard to the incident. According to the reports, the CPI(M) "assailants" allegedly ransacked and damaged a vehicle and two-wheelers parked near Deb's house when he was commemorating the death anniversary of his father Hirudhan Deb.

State's Advocate General, S. S. Dey submitted that in connection with the incident, several cases were registered at Kakraban Police Station on written complaints and one case was registered suo motu. He further said that one person was also arrested on the basis of evidence. The further investigation in the cases is going on, he said.

Dey also assured the court that the investigation is being monitored by the SDPO himself and the charge-sheet or Final Report will be submitted in accordance with law. He further said that neither the house "of the particular person" was attacked nor the rituals in anyway got hampered.

The division bench of Justice T. Amarnath Goud and Justice Arindam Lodh said it, however, expresses its concern over the manner in which the incident has occurred.

"It is unrealistic when a person of former Chief Minister and presently Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) with “Z Plus” category security, and when the programme is well informed, the security arrangements, sensitizing of threat perception, law and order situation needs to be reviewed. But in this present scenario, it appears that the police department could have been more diligent. Such incidents would give scope for a citizen to comment upon the competence of the police department," the court said.

While closing the PIL, the court directed the Home Secretary to hand over the responsibility of the matter to the Superintendent of Police and to file appropriate reports in accordance with law before competent court and authority.

"With the above observations and directions, the present Public Interest Litigation is accordingly closed. However, this PIL will be reopened as and when this court feels it necessary," it added.

Case Title: Court on its own motion v. The State of Tripura & Ors

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