Image Courtesy:livelaw.in
Bhartiya Janta Party leader and Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia has moved the Supreme Court seeking an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the violence in West Bengal post-election results on May 2.
Besides inquiry by the CBI into the “instances of rampant violence, murders and rapes that have been carried out by workers of TMC across the State of West Bengal”, the plea also seeks directions to the State to “file a detailed status report qua the FIRs registered, arrests made and steps taken by it against the perpetrators of the crimes mentioned in the instant application.”
Bhatia has stated in the petition that All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) members engaged in violence against those people who voted for other parties in the 2021 Assembly elections. He also cited the “murder of one Avijit Sarkar in Bengal”, stating that it was “proof enough to highlight as to how there is a great dance of democracy that is currently underway in West Bengal under the protection of TMC.”
The plea before the top court reads, “Sarkar in a video uploaded on Facebook moments before his death highlighted how the TMC workers not only ransacked his house and NGO, but also mercilessly killed voiceless puppies. Sarkar specifically blamed TMC leaders for the attack and eventual death.”
Bhatia has also alleged that it was clear that TMC has been exercising undue influence over the police and other enforcement agencies in as much as no FIRs have been registered against alleged party workers for their acts.
He has submitted that he has approached the top court to bring to its notice “the brutal murders and commission of serious crimes like rape and molestation, blatant violence and complete breakdown of the law-and-order machinery in the State of West Bengal before, during and after the Assembly elections in the State.”
He has openly blamed the ruling party in the state for the chaos on the basis of media reports. “As per media reports, the violence is directly sponsored by the ruling party through its workers who are seeking revenge against the citizenry of the State which has exercised its democratic right of voting for a party other than TMC. That the perpetrators of crime who should be booked and punished in accordance with law are being protected by the ruling dispensation.”
Petitioned the Hon’ble Supreme Court pertaining to brutal violence, murders & rape happening in West Bengal Violation of human rights by alleged TMC goons should not be tolerated
Mamata Banerjee should abide by the Constitutional oath she took Protect lives #WestBengalViolence https://t.co/rWzO1FiV0Z pic.twitter.com/2D6odGHDpv— Gaurav Bhatia गौरव भाटिया ?? (@gauravbh) May 4, 2021
According to some news sources, party offices were torched and homes were looted, resulting in the deaths of several people. BJP has said that it will hold a nationwide dharna against the violence on May 5, the same day TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is expected to take oath as the Chief Minister for the third time.
The BJP has announced a nationwide dharna on 5th May against the widespread violence unleashed by TMC workers post the election results in West Bengal.
This protest will be held following all Covid protocols across all organisational mandals of the BJP.
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 3, 2021
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