Calcutta High Court instructs NIA to submit report on Murshidabad clashes during Ram Navami festivities
- In Reports
- 05:57 PM, Apr 26, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Calcutta High Court directed the National Investigation Agency to submit a report on the clashes in West Bengal's Murshidabad district during Ram Navami celebrations. The court stated that the report should indicate whether the probe should be transferred to the Central agency.
The court observed that the Murshidabad district SP referenced the purported use of bombs and other weapons, which led to injuries during the clashes in Beldanga and Saktipur on April 13 and 17.
A division Bench, led by Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam, instructed the NIA to submit a report on the clashes, along with other allegations presented in two PILs, and the purported use of bombs.
The Bench, also including Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, instructed the NIA to specify in the report whether the FIRs filed in connection with the clashes should be transferred to the Central agency.
According to the NIA Act, bomb explosions are among the scheduled offences that fall under the jurisdiction of the Central agency for investigation. The court scheduled the matter for further hearing on May 10, by which date the report must be submitted.
Furthermore, it directed the NIA to address serious allegations raised by the Central Government's representative, additional solicitor general Asok Kumar Chakrabarti, concerning the clashes, as outlined in one of the petitions.
The Murshidabad SP and the CID complied with the court's directive by submitting reports in the form of affidavits during the previous hearing.
On April 23, expressing dissatisfaction with the clashes during Ram Navami celebrations, the court hinted at the possibility of suggesting to the Election Commission of India a postponement of the Lok Sabha election in the Baharampur constituency, where the incidents occurred.
During the hearing of two petitions advocating for CBI and NIA investigations into the clashes, the court remarked that if conflicts arise when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in effect, elected representatives may not be necessary, as elections could exacerbate the situation. The petitioners in the two PILs are Amiya Sarkar, the Kolkata convenor of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and S. A. Afzal, the regional convenor of Muslim Rashtriya Mancha for West Bengal and Sikkim.
Image source: The Indian Express
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