The PIL filed by a social worker Arun Mukherjee who is a victim of the posy-poll violence
The Supreme Court today [21/05/21] agreed to hear the plea which was seeking the Center’s direction on the exodus of people from Bengal, which should be prevented by the State Government of West Bengal.
A divisional vacation bench of Justice Vineet Saran and B R Gavai told that they would hear the matter next week after Senior Advocate Pinky Anand told them that there are more than one lakh people who have been displaced due to the poll-related violence in West Bengal. The plea also states that it was a “State-Sponsored violence” and constituting of a Special Investigation Team [SIT] to fairly investigate the matter and take appropriate actions against the culprits.
The post-electoral violence in West Bengal is going on from May 2 onwards. The plea states that the Police and the State-sponsored Goons are in association, hence due to this, the Police is simply a mere spectator of the crime which is happening in front of their eyes. They are also threatening the victims from filing FIR’s, also not taking action in incidents where cognizable offenses have been committed in presence of the Police Authority. The Police also aren’t providing any security to the individuals who are facing life threats.
“No support/assistance was offered from the State Government [TMC] and even their security was compromised in many instances. They have reported the inaction of the police in protecting the women, who were attacked and threatened by hooligans and no action was taken by the police officials in this regard”, the plea submitted. It also stated that a large number of people are forced to leave/vacate their homes and shift to stay in shelter homes/camps outside West Bengal. The poor have been adversely affected due to this.
“The exodus of the people in West Bengal due to state-sponsored violence has posed serious humanitarian issues related to their survival, where they are forced to live in deplorable conditions, in violation of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India” The plea also sought formation of Commission for rehabilitation of displaced persons, compensation for loss of family members, property, and livelihood, mental and emotional agony.
The petitioners said that direction be also issued to the Centre for deploying central protection forces, including armed forces, for the restoration of law and order in West Bengal and setting up a fast-track court to adjudicate matters pertaining to the prosecution of any individual or organization involved in the commission of heinous offenses.