Calcutta HC reserves order on Birbhum killings; Mamata reaches Bogtui village, speaks to kin of deceased: Top developments | India News
Earlier, the court had declined to hear a plea seeking a CBI probe into the matter, observing that the state agencies should be given the opportunity to probe the case and give a report by March 24.
Birbhum Violence Case Live Updates
The murder of Bhadu Sheikh, a deputy pradhan in Bogtui village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Monday evening, led to at least eight houses in the area being attacked and set on fire, resulting in eight deaths, including that of women and children.
Here are the other top developments through the day:
Mamata reaches Bogtui village, speaks with kin of deceased
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday reached Bogtui village, where eight people were burnt alive earlier this week, and spoke with the family members of those killed. She took a helicopter from Dumurjola Stadium in Howrah and landed on a helipad near the village amid tight security.
She went to Bogtui village and spoke with the family members of those killed.
The chief minister also separately spoke with the family members of slain local TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh. One of his family members fell ill while describing their ordeal to Banerjee.
TMC Rampurhat-1 block president arrested
Trinamool Congress Rampurhat-1 block president Anarul Hossain was arrested on Thursday in connection with the killings, police said.
He was arrested from Tarapith in the district within hours of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directing the police to nab him for not paying attention to local people’s apprehension of possible disturbance in the area, which ultimately snowballed into the carnage, a senior officer said.
Searches were conducted in various parts of the district including Hossain’s residence, after which he was nabbed from Tarapith. Hossain was picked up from near a hotel after police tracked his mobile phone tower location, he said.
The local TMC leader will be questioned over the incident in which eight people were burnt alive on Tuesday, he added.
Meanwhile, Rampurhat police station inspector-in-charge Tridib Pramanik was suspended for negligence.
BJP MLAs stage walkout in Bengal Assembly
Opposition BJP MLAs staged a walkout in the state assembly on Thursday after the Speaker refused to grant time for a discussion on the recent Birbhum killings.
As soon as the members assembled, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, along with other saffron party MLAs, rushed to the well of the House, demanding a discussion on the violence. The saffron party legislators held placards that had ‘Manush mara sarkar, aar nei dorkar’ (we do not want this government which kills people) written on them.
As Speaker Biman Banerjee turned down the demand, the BJP MLAs staged a walkout.
TMC delegation seeks Bengal governor’s ouster
A Trinamool Congress delegation met home minister Amit Shah on Thursday and sought the ouster of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar as a political fight over the horrifying killings continued to echo inside and outside Parliament.
In Lok Sabha, BJP MP Saumitra Khan rushed to the Well from his seat in the last rows, shouting angry comments against the state’s TMC government and sat in the aisle briefly, alleging that Bengal has become a “land of terror”.
Congress member Gaurav Gogoi also slammed the state government for not allowing the party’s leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to visit the site of the violenc e and stopping him nearly 90 km away from the spot, saying it is a blow to democracy.
TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay spoke in Lok Sabha about his meeting with Shah.
The home minister told the delegation that there was no politics over the issue and that firm punishment should be given to the guilty, he said.
After the meeting, Bandyopadhyay told reporters that his party has demanded that the governor be removed, alleging that he was working against constitutional norms. “Parliamentary system is under threat from him,” he said.
Congress leader Adhir prevented from entering Bogtui village
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was on Thursday prevented from entering Bogtui village.
The Congress leader in Lok Sabha and other party members were stopped at Sriniketan More near the village in Birbhum district, and they sat on the road and staged a demonstration demanding that they be allowed to visit the village and meet the kin of the deceased.
“We cannot allow him (Chowdhury) to visit Bogtui as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to arrive at the village shortly. We cannot take any chance with the law and order situation, which is presently under control. We fear that his visit may disturb the peace,” a senior district police officer said.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Director General (CID) Gyanwant Singh, also reached the village.
Meanwhile, senior police officers met villagers who had fled Bogtui following the carnage and assured them of full security.
Around 69 people of five families had fled to neighbouring villages following the incident, another police officer said.
“Senior police officers have spoken to them and assured them of full security. Most of them have started returning. The chief minister may meet some of them during her visit,” he added.
31 CCTVs installed at violence site
Advocate General (AG) S.N Mookherjee, while handing over the case diary to the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, apprised the Bench that as per the prior directions of the court, 31 CCTV cameras have been installed atthe scene of the crime.
He further informed that despite no such directions to this effect, arrangements have been made to provide security to the CFSL personnel visiting the crime scene by the Central Reserve Police Force.
The Court was further apprised that witness protection has also been extended.
(With inputs from agencies)
