Stating that it “cannot turn a blind eye” to vandalism in parts of West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered the deployment of Central forces in the violence-hit district of Murshidabad where three people were killed and 15 police personnel injured after a protest against the amended Waqf law turned violent on Friday.
A special bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury was constituted by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam to urgently hear a petition filed by BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, seeking deployment of Central forces in the district.
Calling the situation in Murshidabad “grave and volatile”, the Bench said in its order: “Action is to be taken against the culprits to arrest the atrocities committed on innocent citizens on war footing. Constitutional Courts cannot be a mute spectator and embroil itself in technical defences when the safety and security of the people are at danger. The deployment of Central Armed forces earlier could have de-escalated the situation as it appears adequate measures have not been taken in time.”
Stating that there is no denying of the fact that there is “an internal disturbance in some of the districts, including Dhuliyan and Jangipur in Murshidabad, Amtala in South 24 Parganas), North 24 Parganas, Champdani in Hooghly, and even in parts of Kolkata, the High Court said,
“The purpose of deployment of the para-military forces or Central Armed Police Force is only for the purpose of facilitating the State Administration to ensure the safety and security of population in this State.”
During the hearing, the counsel of Adhikari claimed that while the BSF has been called in Murshidabad, the District Magistrate was allowing them to work. “The situation is very volatile and worrisome. Police are unable to control the situation. Therefore, the Central forces should be brought in,” Adhikari’s lawyer said.
The plea was opposed by the TMC government. The state’s counsel said the situation was under control and the BSF personnel have been deployed. “The Director General of Police (Rajeev Kumar) is on the spot. There is no need for the Central forces. The State has adequate force there. Six companies of BSF are deployed there as per the State’s requisition,” the state’s counsel said.
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To this, the Bench said: “The court wants the people of the state to stay safely. It is not that the police or the local administration is not capable or that a specific person or a group is being protected… How many people lost their lives, How many cars and houses have been burnt? Which are the sensitive areas and where all the internet services have been stopped? What steps have the state and police taken?”
The court then instructed both the state government and the Centre to submit detailed reports on the situation.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 17.
