The Calcutta High Court has asked the district magistrate of West Midnapore to submit a report within two weeks on the July 3 incident in which social activist Medha Patkar and 13 others had been stopped at Debra on their way to Lalgarh by the police.

Patkar and the others had filed a petition in the court two days ago alleging that they had been illegally arrested by the police on the National Highway last Friday. The case came up for hearing on Thursday. They also filed petitions seeking a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for illegal arrest by the police.

Patkar challenged the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC in Lalgarh.

Other than Patkar, Sujato Bhadra, a member of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights was also a part of the group.

Advocate General Bolai Roy pleaded that the police had requested Patkar not to go to Lalgarh as Section 144 of CrPC had been imposed there. Following this nearly 200 people led by Patkar protested against the police action and held a road blockade there. They also obstructed the police from doing its duty. The police, then, lodged an FIR against Patkar and the others. They were arrested, later released on personal bond, said Roy.

The counsel of Patkar pleaded that Section 144 of CrPC was not imposed at Debra but the police still arrested them. They were taken to the police station illegally.

After the hearing, Justice Sanjib Banerjee directed the district magistrate to submit a report.

... contd.