Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court ordered a National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation into the death of a student in Islampur's shooting incident. Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said that the investigating agency will decide whether to probe the matter or not. However, the National Human Rights Commission will continue to investigate the death.
In addition, the Calcutta High Court ordered immediate compensation to be provided to the affected families. There were allegations of hurling bombs at the protesting crowd of about 500 to 700. Justice Mantha said that the NIA investigation was ordered as the court observed that the investigation into the death of two students did not proceed in the right direction.
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In 2018, two former students--Tapas Barman and Rajesh Sarkar--were shot dead during a protest at Darivit School over the appointment of Urdu language teachers. It was alleged that two students died in police firing. Recently, the family approached the Calcutta High Court demanding a CBI investigation. The court vented its ire at the role of the State Human Rights Commission during the hearing of the case.
According to the National Human Rights Commission's investigation report, after receiving the letter from the deceased's father, the National Human Rights Commission headed by DIG went to Islampur on October 11, 2018. No documents were provided despite repeated requests to the state. With no cooperation from the administration, the NHRC started the investigation and went to the village.
"Tapas Burman's death was caused by firing. While Rajesh Sarkar was also shot dead from a close range. The policeman, Parimal Adhikari, claimed to have been injured in the firing, but he was not shot at but was attacked by a mob," the NHRC told the court that observations were made as per the report medical reports.
