"Appalling Apathy Of State": Rights Body For CBI Probe In Bengal Violence

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee countered the NHRC report saying the panel was being used by the BJP to settle political scores.

Accusing the West Bengal government of "appalling apathy" towards victims of political violence after the March-April elections, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended a CBI probe into "grievous offences like murder and rape" and said that these cases should be tried outside the state. In a sweeping indictment of the state government, an NHRC committee formed on the directions of the Calcutta High Court said the situation in West Bengal was a "manifestation of law of ruler instead of rule of law" and "the local police has been grossly derelict, if not complicit, in this violence." Backing claims of "retributive violence by supporters of the ruling party against supporters of the main opposition party" the BJP, the report placed before the high court said that it "resulted in disruption of life and livelihood of thousands of people and their economic strangulation." "To compound the problem, violence and intimidation has continued. There is palpable fear among victims against police and goons of ruling party. Many displaced persons have not yet been able to return to their homes and resume their normal life and livelihood. There have been several sexual offences but victims are scared to speak out. Loss of faith in State administration among victims is very evident," the NHRC said.