The CBI has so far registered nine cases pertaining to the post poll violence in West Bengal, following a Calcutta High Court directive earlier this month.
“The four teams constituted for probing the cases are in West Bengal. The victims’ statements are being recorded. Based on the information provided by the State police, more cases are expected to be registered in due course,” said a CBI official.
During the day, a CBI team visited the residence of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar, who was killed, allegedly in the post poll violence. The CBI officials, along with forensic experts, spent a considerable time at the house in Kolkata’s Kakurgachi area. They spoke to Biswajit Sarkar, his brother. Another CBI team went to Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas and visited the residence of BJP worker Jay Prakash Yadav, who was also killed, allegedly in the post poll violence.
The CBI had written to the Director General of Police, seeking details of cases of alleged murder and sexual abuse of women after the Assembly elections earlier this year.
NHRC report
The court issued the directions on the basis of a report submitted by a committee of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
“All the cases where, as per the report of the committee, the allegations are about murder of a person and crime against women regarding rape/attempt to rape, shall be referred to CBI for investigation. The committee, NHRC, any other Commission or Authority and the State shall immediately hand over entire record of the cases entrusted to the CBI for investigation,” the five-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court said in its order on August 19.
The CBI has been asked to submit a status report to the court within six weeks.
