Calcutta High Court Sets Up a Rare 5-Judge Bench to Hear About Post Poll Violence in the State, Advocate General Admits Political Violence

The Calcutta High Court Friday formed a five judge bench to hear about the post poll violence in the state. The Court has asked the West Bengal Home Secretary to submit a report stating measures taken by the administration to check the violence. The Court will take up the matter on May 10 and decide about the constitution of a Special Investigation Team. Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted that central security forces had been involved for restoring normalcy. He also admitted that there were instances of political violence in the state after the results were declared on May 2. In the ensuing violence, more than 20 BJP workers and their family members lost their lives. Many BJP offices and political workers’ homes were vandalised and torched. Earlier, senior TMC leader and MP Derek O’Brien had dismissed the reports of political violence as fake news spread by the BJP. Another TMC MP, Mahua Moitra, also dismissed the reports of political violence as rumours spread by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a press conference Thursday admitted instances of political violence and announced monetary compensation to the families of the dead.