CALCUTTA, DEC 26: A major political controversy has erupted in West Bengal over the Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's instructions to the police to shoot down armed criminals, as the major opposition Trinamool Congress threatened to move Amnesty International and human rights bodies.In defence of his instructions to the police to shoot armed criminals, the Chief Minister today said there were definite provisions in this regard in the Police Act and IPC, and denied having violated human rights norms.
``Police Act 23 and IPC 76 clearly envisage that the police should shoot an armed criminal when he is out to kill an innocent person and there is no contradiction with human rights' issues,'' the Chief Minister said reacting to criticisms of the Opposition leaders, including Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who accused him of violating human rights norms.
The Chief Minister had yesterday said during laying the foundation of East Jadavpur police station that armed persons on roads did not enjoy human rights and police should shoot them down ... ``Human rights are for human beings''.
Bhattacharjee's statement came in the wake of a spurt in criminal activities and dacoities in some areas in South Calcutta, particularly in his assembly constituency of Jadavpore.
The Chief Minister said only in case of excesses on innocent people by the police would attract attention of human rights bodies. ``There is no contradiction between the two. It is a crime not to shoot a criminal when he attacks an innocent person.
``When this kind of situation develops, when an organised gang is out to kill someone, it must be confronted by the police to save lives,'' Bhattacharjee, also in charge of Home (Police) department, added.
His yesterday's statement was condemned by Congress, BJP and particularly Trinamool Congress which even threatened to move the Amnesty International, National and state Human Rights Commissions.
The Trinamool Congress chief said today that the Chief Minister's instructions to the police was violative of all basic human rights and constitutional norms. ``We will take up the issue with the Union Home Ministry.''
Party's policy-making body chairman Pankaj Banerjee condemned the Chief Minister's statement, accusing him of ``encouraging growth of Fascism''.
``Such instructions from none other than the Chief Minister can't be taken lightly as it will give unending liberty to the police to shoot down innocent persons,'' he said.
Congress leader Saugata Roy and state BJP Vice-President Muzaffar Khan also condemned the statement and expressed concern at the ``move to give more power to the police''.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
