Lalgarh killings: Kolkata Bar Association files PIL, demands CBI probe
By ANIMonday, January 10, 2011
KOLKATA - The Kolkata Bar Association has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the recent killings in Lalgarh’s Netai village, where some suspected armed CPI-M cadres killed seven people and injured over 20 others.
The PIL filed in the court also demands Rs. 25 lakh as compensation to the families of those killed and Rs. 10 lakh to those, who suffered bullet injuries.
The chief justice has granted leave to file the PIL and directed petitioners to serve notice to the Advocate General of West Bengal, the Additional Solicitor General of India and the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Earlier today, Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and briefed him on the situation in Netai village.
“I briefed him (Mukherjee) on the situation at Netai village in Lalgarh,” Banerjee told reporters after emerging from the meeting.
Expressing concern over the ‘worsening’ law and order situation in West Bengal, Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said: “Law and order is a serious issue. Law and order is worsening in West Bengal. Killings have become a daily phenomenon.”
“But who is responsible for such a state of affairs? It is the duty of the state government to ensure security of the people. We sent the CRPF to combat the Maoist terror but despite that incidents of violence are taking place. It is very unfortunate,” he added.
Banerjee had earlier on Sunday said: “The Netai village is witnessing repetition of what happened in Nandigram in 2007. Few days back three people died and today seven to eight bodies have been identified.”
Banerjee further said the condition in Netai village is very devastating and many dead bodies are still missing.
“I have got to know that the condition is very devastating there. They (villagers) have told me where they have been shot bullet and how they (villagers) have been operated. I have been also informed that there are still few dead bodies missing,” she stated.
Six villagers, including a woman were killed and over 20 injured in firing by suspected armed CPI-M cadres in Lalgarh in West Bengal’s West Midnapore District on Friday.
The villagers, who had gathered to protest against demands made by Marxist armed cadre that they volunteer for night patrols and arms training, were fired at from a house at Netai village in Belatikri gram panchayat in Lalgarh police station area. (ANI)
