Supreme Court orders CBI probe into Bengal massacre

Bengal govt had appealed the Netai killings should be probed by state CID,not CBI.

In a setback to the West Bengal government,the Supreme Court today dismissed its plea against a Calcutta High Court order for a CBI probe into the massacre of nine villagers in Netai in Lalgarh in January.

A Bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly refused to interfere with the High Court’s order saying,”It doesn’t suffer from any infirmity.”

The Bench,however,clarified that any observation made by the High Court in its order should not be construed as aspersions on the state CID which was earlier conducting the investigation into the case.

The state government had challenging the High Court’s order transferring the probe from state CID to the CBI,claiming the direction had “political overtones”.

The January 7 Netai massacre,which claimed nine lives and left many others injured,was allegedly carried out by CPI(M) cadres in Lalgarh in West Midnapore and 10 people have been arrested so far.

Opposing the plea of the state government,the High Court Bar Association and the West Bengal Association for Democratic Rights,on whose petition the High Court had ordered the CBI probe,pleaded that an inquiry by the central agency is needed as the Union Home Minister had in the past expressed concern over the law and order situation in the state.

The state government had during the hearing on March 11 assured the Supreme Court that all accused involved in the case will be brought to justice irrespective of their political alliance.

Story continues below this ad

It had suggested that instead of a CBI probe,the apex court could impose conditions on the CID for an effective and impartial probe into the incident.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram