The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which has been tasked with investigating the incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal has revealed some shocking details as people who have dared to vote for the BJP were subjected to unfathomable atrocities and faced a social boycott.
The NHRC’s fact-finding team on West Bengal post-poll violence has revealed that the violence was not sporadic and was clearly pre-meditated with water supply being cut, connecting bridges demolished, and made to sign that they will never vote for the BJP again.
Earlier this week, the NHRC’s fact-finding committee was reportedly attacked during their visit to Jadavpur. ANI quoted an unnamed official from the NHRC’s fact-finding team as saying, “NHRC team that visited Jadavpur to investigate post-poll violence was attacked. During probe, it has been found that more than 40 houses have been destroyed here. We are being attacked by goons.”
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress attempted to brazen out the violence. “No one with ‘national’ on its name can be attacked. Why will public attack the (NHRC) team? People of West Bengal have already hit Amit Shah and Narendra Modi by giving TMC 200 plus seats in the assembly election,” said TMC MLA Madan Mitra.
Recently, the Calcutta High Court delivered a major setback to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by turning down the West Bengal government’s request of recalling or modifying its directive where the court asked the NHRC to examine all cases of alleged human rights violations cases during the post-poll violence in the state.
Observing that the West Bengal government has failed to convince the Court that they have seriously acted against the allegations of human rights violations, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the West Bengal government’s request of either recalling or modifying its earlier directive.
On June 20, West Bengal Home Secretary B P Gopalika submitted a petition to request the Calcutta High Court to recall or modify its order as she stated that the West Bengal government should be given a chance to inquire into nearly 3,423 allegations provided by the West Bengal Legal Services Authority (WBLSA).
The WBLSA while submitting its report had categorically stated that when the complaints of the post-poll violence were referred to the concerned district police officers, no response was received from them. However, the State Home Department argued that the allegations of police ‘inaction’ against complaints needed to be verified.
Based on the WBLSA’s report where it stated that 3,423 incidents of post-poll violence were recorded till June 10, the Court had earlier on June 18, passed the order directing the NHRC to examine all post-poll violence.
The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Binal and Justices IP Mukerji, Harish Tandon, Soumen Sen and Subrata Talukdar dismissed the West Bengal government’s plea to recall the Court’s earlier directive.
The Acting Chief Justice observed, “There were allegations that Police is not taking action and that is why we had to involve NHRC. You have not put on record a single complaint received by you. Your conduct in this case does not inspire confidence of this court.”
The Bench also criticised the West Bengal government for its lethargy as the NHRC has already received over 500 complaints while the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government continues to maintain that the State Human Rights Commission has yet to receive a single complaint.