CBI, Special Team To Probe Post-Election Violence In Bengal

Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal's observations and the findings of a committee appointed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are unsparing to the Bengal Police

The Calcutta High Court today ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into "heinous crimes of murder and rape" and a Special Investigation Team probe into other complaints of violence after the results of the West Bengal election was announced in May, resulting in the thumping victory for Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. The court in a 124 page judgement said a status report from come within six weeks from the CBI and the SIT probes and compensation should be paid to victims. Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal's observations and the findings of a committee appointed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are unsparing to the Bengal Police. The police, the court said, failed to file first information reports (FIRs) in cases of serious crimes or registered FIRs only for minor offences in case of serious crimes. The police sometimes displayed a "predetermined mindset to take a case in a particular direction", apparently to favour the accused who, in many cases, were identified as workers or supporters of the ruling party, the judgement says.