Lalgarh killings: Hearing on public suit adjourned to Jan 18

KOLKATA - The Calcutta High Court Friday adjourned till Jan 18 the hearing on a public suit seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Jan 7 killing of villagers near Lalgarh in West Midnapore district.

The West Bengal government Thursday had filed an affidavit, opposing the CBI probe and contending that law and order was a state subject and that the court had no power to order an investigation by the central agency.

It also assured the court that all efforts would be made to punish those guilty of the killings.

The government had also denied the existence of armed camps in Lalgarh of West Midnapore district as alleged by the petitioners, the Calcutta High Court Bar Association, before a division bench.

Kalyan Banerjee, appearing for the bar association, termed the ongoing investigation by the state police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as “faulty and motivated” and pleaded for a CBI probe.

He pointed out to the court that the person from whose house arms and cartridges were seized has not been named in the first information report (FIR).

“The forensic team reached the spot on Jan 11, four days after the incident. The CID also took three days to visit the injured when the hospital in which they have been admitted is just three kms away from the CID headquarters,” argued Banerjee.

Banerjee also submitted an affidavit giving details of 120 armed camps said to exist in and around Lalgarh.

State Advocate General Balai Roy chose not to contest the petitioners’ plea of interim compensation although in the affidavit the state had stated that it was not liable to pay any compensation.

After hearing the pleas of the parties for six long hours, the bench of Chief Justice J.N. Patel and Justice A.K. Roy adjourned the hearing for the day and scheduled Tuesday (Jan 18) for the next hearing when it is likely to pass an order in the case.

Banerjee later told media persons: “The court has adjourned the matter and on Tuesday it may pass suitable orders. The court may pass order for interim compensation. The court has also accepted our proposal to dismantle the armed camps. For the purpose we have suggested the formation of a joint team of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) under the supervision and monitoring of the high court.”

“The court has said that investigation may be continued by the CID but it should be monitored by the high court,” he added.