Newly wed couple among 8 persons killed in Birbhum violence; HC takes suo moto cognizance

March 23: Among eight persons who died after houses were set on fire in West Bengal’s Birbhum was a newly-wed couple. An 18-year-old Lily Khatun and 22-year-old Kaji Sajidur Rahman, who got married in January. Khatun came to her house in Bogtui village with Rahman for Shab-e-Barat. Rahman had called his friend to alert police so they could be saved, his father said.

Eleven people have been arrested after eight persons, including two children, died in West Bengal’s Birbhum district as nearly 10-12 houses were set ablaze. The incident happened hours after deputy gram pradhan of the Trinamool Congress was killed in a bomb attack on Monday night. “We are investigating…whether the incident is related to death of Trinamool panchayat leader,” police said. Around eight people including women and two children were killed in the incident.

The Centre sought a detailed report on the incident from the state government. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar criticised CM Mamata Banerjee over the Birbhum violence. West Bengal Chief Minister CM Mamata Banerjee has asked the DGP to take immediate action against perpetrators of the violence. CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she isn’t justifying the incident in Birbhum, where eight people were killed after houses were set on fire, but added that such incidents are more frequent in UP, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. “Action will be taken against perpetrators of violence in Birbhum, irrespective of their political colours,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has taken a suo moto cognizance of the violence that erupted in West Bengal’s Birbhum district in which as many as eight people were burnt to death. After taking suo motu cognisance of the Birbhum killings, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday asked the West Bengal administration to protect eyewitnesses and install CCTV cameras at the crime scene in presence of a district judge. It also directed the CFSL Delhi team to collect evidence and asked the state to submit a status report by 2 pm tomorrow.

The National Commission for Women has asked West Bengal’s Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Malviya to take action in the Birbhum violence case, in which women and children were killed.