Plea in SC seeks SIT probe into killing of BJP workers in WB

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the TMC led West Bengal government to hand over the investigations into the killing of BJP workers in the post-poll violence to the Special Investigation Team to be constituted by the Apex Court.

New Delhi: The plea seeks directions to the SIT to carry out the investigation within a stipulated time and submit periodical reports in SC.

The plea has been filed by Maharashtra-based lawyer Ghanshyam Upadhyay who says that after the state assembly results on 2nd May 2021, the killing of BJP workers and supporters and destruction of houses have taken place which forced the BJP supporters to leave their residences and go into hiding.

Upadhyay contends that Mamta Bannerjee has forgotten her "raj dharma" completely and is "found to be treating a certain class of people of the state who have campaigned in the election and voted against her political party, as her worst enemies and after the election result, people belonging to her political party TMC in tacit understanding with the Respondent No.3 (Mamta Bannerjee) have resorted to killings of the people belonging to BJP and law enforcing agencies of the state have become silent spectators to such ghastly and heinous crimes".

Citing media reports on violence in the state, Upadhyay contends that Mamta Bannerjee and her party TMC are trying to subvert the principles of a responsible government and instead, trying to set up a dictatorship leading to domestic chaos.

The petitioner has sought directions to the governor of the state to submit a detailed report on the law and order situation of the state and declare that there is no rule of law in the state and there is a complete failure of constitutional machinery in the state.

"This hon'ble court may be pleased to direct the Respondent No.4 (Governor) to perform its duty and function as enshrined under Article 355 of the Constitution of India and advice the President to issue a Proclamation for the Respondent No 4. under Article 356(1) of the Constitution of India," prayed the petitioner seeking imposition of President's rule in Bengal.