Birbhum massacre : Autopsy report reveals victims were brutally beaten up before being burnt alive

Kolkata: The autopsy report of eight people who were charred to death in Bogtui village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district revealed that they were mercilessly beaten up before the carnage. As per preliminary findings of the forensic experts, who conducted the tests on the charred bodies found inside the houses that were allegedly set on fire by unidentified people early on Tuesday, the victims were first badly beaten up and then burnt alive, an official told news agency PTI from Rampurhat hospital.

MOMENTS AGO: Autopsy report in the Birbhum violence case reveals that the victims were badly beaten up before being burnt alive#BirbhumViolence #Birbhum pic.twitter.com/5MMGFookmL

— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) March 24, 2022

Source : India.com

HC seeks status report by tomorrow, orders protection of evidence and witnesses

23rd March 2022

After taking sou-motu cognizance of the Birbhum massacre in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court has issued directions to the state government to ensure proper probe of the case. Taking up the matter today afternoon, the court asked the state government to submit the case diary and a report on the investigation so far by tomorrow.

A bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj issued the orders, asking to submit the case diary and report by 2 PM tomorrow. “We at the first instance give an opportunity to the State to produce the case diary/ report about the investigation by tomorrow 2 PM. Report relating to investigation done until now to be produced by 2 PM on 24 March,” the bench said.

The court also issued directions for protection of evidence and the crime scene. The court ordered that the scene must be continuously monitored through CCTV cameras. The court directed the state govt to “immediately install CCTV cameras with DVR having sufficient memory covering all angles of scene of occurrence and will do continuous recording until further orders.” Cameras will have to be installed in the presence of the District Judge of Purba Bardhaman district.

The Calcutta High Court directed that a team from CFSL in Delhi will visit the site to collect forensic evidence. The order said that the evidence will have to be collected without any delay.

The bench also asked the DGP and the IGP to ensure the protection of witnesses in the case. “Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police in consultation with District Judge, Purba Bardhaman district should ensure that witnesses are adequately protected and not threatened or influenced by anyone,” the court order said.

While postmortem of the victims has been already done, the court said that if any postmortem examination is yet to be that, the same should be done under video recording.

The High Court had taken up the matter after initiating a suo motu case, along with some PILs filed by some individuals after 8 persons were killed in retaliation to the alleged murder of a TMC leader. The individuals who have approached the court have demanded a CBI probe, saying that the SIT formed by the state govt is not impartial.

Birbhum villagers flee; Blame cops for massacre that killed 8

A day after 8 charred bodies were found from a cluster of homes in Birbhum’s Bogtui village, tension prevails in the area. The massacre was triggered after the murder of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh. An angry mob set houses with families of the alleged accused in the murder case, locked inside, on fire. Among the 8 killed were women and 2 children. Villagers are now fleeing the area fearing yet another attack. One eyewitness even recalled how the violence broke out in the middle of the night, when the families were sleeping in their houses.

पश्चिम बंगाल: बीरभूम में हिंसा के बाद स्थानीय लोग अपने घरों को छोड़कर दूसरे स्थान जा रहे हैं।

एक महिला ने कहा, "सुरक्षा के मद्देनज़र हम घरों को छोड़कर जा रहे है, जिनकी मृत्यु हुई उनमें से एक मेरा देवर था। पुलिस ने किसी भी तरह की सुरक्षा नहीं दी, सुरक्षा होती तो ये घटना न घटती।" pic.twitter.com/SCYURQLl5q

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) March 23, 2022

Birbhum arson incident: Child panel sends notice to SP, DGP seeking factual report in three days

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chief Priyank Kanoongo said that the commission has sent notices to district SP Nagendra Nath Tripathi and DGP Manoj Malaviya to submit a factual report within three days over Birbhum violence in West Bengal

Speaking to ANI, Kanoongo said, “We have taken cognizance of the Birbhum, West Bengal incident in which children also died. We’ve sent a notice to district SP and DGP to send a factual report within three days. We are monitoring the situation and if necessary we will send our team also.”

He further said, “Even after the incident, we have got information that some anti-social elements are attacking children. If needed, we will send our team.”

Kanoongo said, “We have also informed the Supreme Court that situation of children in West Bengal is very vulnerable. Some are forced to migrate and take refuge in some other parts of the country.”

22 arrested for Birbhum killings, forensic team at site of incident

At least 22 people have been arrested so far in connection with violence in West Bengal’s Birbhum district that claimed eight lives, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

Eleven people were arrested the same day for their involvement in the incident. “We are grilling them (those arrested) to find out if there were more people involved in the incident. Some accused seem to have fled the village. We are trying to trace them,” the officer said.

He added that forensic experts were examining the ravaged houses to get an idea about the “nature of the mishap”.

The West Bengal government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Director General (CID) Gyanwant Singh, to probe the incident.

Suvendu Adhikari led BJP delegation visits Birbhum incident site, demands NIA or CBI probe in matter

After a delegation of BJP led by Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday visited Rampurhat in Birbhum. He demanded an NIA or CBI probe in the matter.

“President’s Rule is the only way to save our Bengal,” Mr Adhikari added.

“Very unfortunate incident, no words are sufficient to condemn it. Calcutta HC has given directions to Central Forensics. We demand an NIA or CBI probe. SIT is a wing of state govt,CM is trying to save the govt. President’s Rule is the only way to save our Bengal,” Suvendu Adhikari was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Law & order situation across West Bengal is grave. 26 murders have taken place in last one week in different parts of the state. Center should intervene & use Art.356 (President's Rule) or Art.355 to take the situation in their control in Bengal: WB BJP chief Suvendhu Adhikari pic.twitter.com/bkPUK6v6Zy

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2022

West Bengal Congress chief and MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to President Ram Nath Kovind, requesting him to invoke Article 355 of the Constitution "to ensure that the Government of West Bengal is carried on in accordance with the provision of the Constitution." pic.twitter.com/EfDWLVsRnt

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2022

West Bengal: Mob torches houses in Birbhum following the murder of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh, 8 burnt alive

On Tuesday (March 22) night, at least eight people were charred to death after unidentified miscreants set a dozen houses on fire. The incident took place in the Rampurhat area in the Birbhum district of West Bengal on Tuesday.

As per reports, the miscreants locked the houses outside before setting them ablaze, leaving no room for the occupants to vacate. The incident took place after the killing of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) functionary named Bhadu Sheikh on Monday.

At least 20 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence. While CM Mamata Banerjee has promised an impartial probe in the case, she tried to dilute the incident by saying such incidents are more common in other states like UP, Bihar, Rajasthan etc. She also accused the opposition of using the incident to defame the state.