The Union Home Ministry Yesterday (June 18th) informed the Calcutta High Court that it has no reservation if the deployment of central forces in West Bengal is extended if the situation demands in the light of allegations of post-poll violence in the state.
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Kolkata: The Union Home Ministry informed the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday that it has no objections to extending the deployment of central forces in West Bengal if the situation demands, in light of the allegations of post-poll violence in the state.
The court directed the Centre and the West Bengal government to assess the situation based on the charges of post-poll violence raised by the petitioners. Both parties are required to disclose all relevant facts related to these allegations at the next hearing on June 21.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Asok Chakrabarti, representing the Union Home Ministry, stated,
“We have no reservations about extending the deployment of central forces in the state if the situation demands.”
The counsel for Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, one of the petitioners in two Public Interest Litigations (PILs), submitted that a report by the West Bengal government revealed that as of June 12, a total of 107 FIRs had been lodged, with 18 of these not related to post-poll violence. This, he argued, indicated that post-poll violence was indeed occurring in the state.
The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal concluded on June 1, with the results declared on June 4.
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A division bench presided by Justice Harish Tandon directed that the matter be listed for another hearing on June 21.
The court had already directed the central forces to remain in Bengal until that date.
Adhikari and lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal, in their separate PILs, alleged that individuals belonging to a particular political party were being subjected to atrocities following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha election process.
The division bench, which also included Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, emphasized,
“Our main concern is the safety and security of the citizens as serious allegations have been made by the petitioners in the PILs.”
Appearing for the state, Advocate General Kishore Dutta asserted,
“The state government is diligently maintaining law and order.”
Petitioner-lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal claimed,
“I have a list of 250 people who were ousted from their homes for their political beliefs and are currently staying in a dharamshala in Kolkata.”
She sought to submit a supplementary affidavit regarding this issue at the next hearing.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Post-Poll Violence
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