In yet another blow to the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya government and the CPI(M), the Calcutta HC termed the March 14 police firing in Nandigram ‘unjustified and unconstitutional’.
CBI told to investigate March 14 police firing at Nandigram and submit report within a month
KOLKATA: In yet another blow to the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya government and the CPI(M), the Calcutta high court on Friday termed the March 14 police firing that killed 14 persons in Nandigram ‘unjustified and unconstitutional’ and ordered a CBI probe into it.
Rejecting all arguments of the state government, a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice SS Nijjar and Justice PC Ghosh told the Central Bureau of Investigations to submit a report within the next one month. The CBI will start an enquiry as soon as it gets a copy of the court order.
The high court ordered immediate criminal proceedings against those found guilty for the March 14 police firing, which it said could have been avoided easily. The Court directed the state government to immediately pay Rs5 lakh each to the families of those killed, Rs2 lakh to rape victims and Rs1 lakh as compensation to those injured.
It’s not yet known if the state government will challenge the high court order in the Supreme Court.
Binoy Konar, senior member of the CPI(M)’s central committee said “the court order is unfortunate. It is a shield for those spreading anarchy in the state.”
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said “we welcome the court order. While lives of those killed cannot be compensated, the court has shown a humanitarian gesture in announcing compensation. The court has called the police firing avoidable and unconstitutional and therefore this government in Bengal should go immediately.”
“If what happened on March 14 is unconstitutional, then what happened in Nandigram between November 4 and 14 is mass murder. After this mass murder the CPI(M) will force those who have suffered and can be witnesses to disappear. The CBI should immediately take charge of victims and witnesses before starting its investigations in Nandigram,” Mamata said.
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