This is an archive article published on March 23, 2022
Submit status report on Birbhum killings in 24 hrs: HC to West Bengal govt
Eight people died in the Bogtui village of West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Tuesday in violence that followed hours after the murder of a deputy gram pradhan associated with the ruling TMC.
Written by Atri Mitra
Kolkata | Updated: March 24, 2022 02:58 AM IST
4 min read
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Charred house of Fatikh Sheikh beside Bhadu Sheikh's house. (Partha Paul/screenshot)
The Calcutta High Court has sought a status report on the Birbhum violence from the West Bengal government by Thursday 2 pm. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava, taking up a suo motu petition and a set of PILs, directed the installation of CCTV cameras in the presence of the district judge and 24×7 CCTV surveillance of the scene of occurrence.
The court also directed a team of Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi to immediately collect necessary materials for forensic examination at Bogtui village where at least eight people were charred to death.
Eight people died in the Bogtui village of Birbhum district early Tuesday morning in violence that followed hours after the murder of a deputy gram pradhan associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The bench ordered the Director General (DG) of West Bengal Police and other top police officials to meet the District Judge of Purba Burdwan and take suggestions on ensuring security in Bogtui village.
The court also asked Advocate General Soumendranath Mukhopadhyay whether the investigation should be handed over to the CBI. To this, the AG replied that the state government had set up an SIT just a day before and if the police fails, then a CBI probe can be considered.
Taking suo moto cognizance of the incident earlier on Wednesday, Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava had observed, “It was a very shocking and serious incident. It has huge impact among the people.”
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While the police denied any political angle and said it was a case of rivalry between two groups, the state government has set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the incident.
The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday also sought a report from the West Bengal government. The move came after a nine-member delegation of BJP MPs from West Bengal met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought his intervention and action against the perpetrators of the crime.
Following the killing of deputy pradhan Bhadu Sheikh, at least eight houses in the area were attacked and set on fire, resulting in eight deaths, including that of women and children.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that action will be taken against perpetrators of violence “irrespective of their political colours”. “Will be going to violence-hit Birbhum district on Thursday to take stock of situation, postponed visit as other political parties huddling there,” she said.
BJP delegation stopped from visiting site of Birbhum violence
A BJP delegation led by Suvendu Adhikari was stopped from visiting the spot of violence in Birbhum district on Wednesday, prompting the opposition party to demand Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation over the incident, alleging that attempts were being made to shield the culprits.
The BJP delegation led by Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, was stopped as police had put up barricades just outside Bogtui village.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
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