Birbhum violence: Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe

The Calcutta High Court on Friday transferred investigation into the violence in Birbhum district of West Bengal, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The order was passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj in a suo motu case taken up to consider the issue, Bar and Bench reported. A few PILs were also filed, seeking a probe by CBI or NIA into the killings.

The HC instructed Bengal government-formed SIT to hand over case papers and arrested people to the CBI. The HC also directed CBI to file progress report by April 7.

Eight people, including two children, were charred to death as nearly a dozen huts were set ablaze in Bogtui villageon March 21 in a suspected fallout of the murder of a Trinamool Congress leader and 'upa-pradhan' (deputy chief) of the local panchayat.

The West Bengal government on Thursday submitted a preliminary report on the Birbhum violence in the HC.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the village on Thursday and ordered the hunting down of all suspects of the Birbhum carnage including her party colleagues. Banerjee spoke with the family members of the victims and offered them permanent government jobs and funds as compensation.

She also visited the house of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh, whose murder is suspected to have triggered the carnage, and gave the same offers to his next of kin. She also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the victims, and Rs 2 lakh each for rebuilding the damaged houses. Those injured will be provided with Rs 50,000 each.