Birbhum violence | Calcutta HC directs CBI probe in murder of TMC Deputy

The violence at Bogtui village in Birbhum on March 21 where nine people lost their lives was in retaliation to the murder, the Court said

Calcutta HC directs CBI probe in murder of TMC Deputy Pradhan Bhadu Sheikh. The violence at Bogtui village in Birbhum on March 21 where nine people lost their lives was in retaliation to the murder. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj said both incidents (murder and retaliatory violence) are inter-linked. On March 25, the Court had directed a CBI probe into the violence at the village.

The court said both the incidents took place within a gap of about two hours. Material placed on record prima facie suggests a close relationship and linkage between the two incidents. The incidents are alleged to be a result of political rivalry. The allegation of the applicants that both incidents form part of a common conspiracy and continuous cause of action cannot be ignored, the court added.

“It is also worth noting if one agency investigates both the incidents then not only it will be easier to unearth the truth, but it will also facilitate trial before the same competent Court,” the court said.

The report submitted by the CBI before this Court today prima facie suggests that the brutal incident of burning and killing at Bogtui village is the direct fall out of the killing of Bhadu Sk the, son of Marfat Sk of Bogtui village at 8:30 pm on the same day. It also suggests that the incident is the outcome of the rivalry amongst the members of two groups in the village and that the burning of the houses resulting in the death of eight persons was a retaliatory plan, the court said.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava had directed the Central investigation agency to probe the violence on March 25. A section of the petitioners prayed before the court that the CBI should also probe the murder of deputy gram pradhan, Bhadu Sheikh. It was Bhadu Sheikh’s murder on March 21 that led to retaliatory violence in the village and several houses were set on fire.

During the day, the CBI arrested four accused in the Bogtui violence in Mumbai. Those arrested are among the people named in the FIR and had fled to Mumbai after the violence. The accused will be brought to Birbhum on transit remand.

The West Bengal government challenged the order of the CBI probe into the murder of Jhalda Municipality Congress councillor Tapan Kandu on March 13. The State government approached the Division Bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and urged that the matter is heard at the earliest.