New Delhi: Violence follows a pattern in Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal. Since 2018, the state has seen unprecedented ‘State sponsored’ violence targeted against particular groups and persons.
Post May-2021 assembly polls and announcement of results, a reign of “unprecedented terror, lawlessness and violence” was unleashed by goons and anti-socials actively supported by the ruling dispensation and the political party in power in West Bengal.
It goes without stating that thousands have been driven out of their homes. Hundreds were murdered. Daughters and mothers of West Bengal were raped, and numerous homes were torched and vandalized.
An estimated three lakh people had been rendered homeless. They were driven out of their homes because they belonged to a ‘particular religion’ (Hindus) or were aligned to a particular organization – BJP.
According to a group of lawyers, a delegation will call on President Ram Nath Kovind on April 29, Friday and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to submit a Memorandum for the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
“The voice for justice for Bengal will now echo in the corridors of Delhi,” it was announced at a press briefing on April 27, Wednesday, here.
Addressing a press conference, the convenor of the ‘Lawyers for Justice’ and counsel for the victims of political violence in West Bengal, Kabir Shankar Bose, said, “Lawyers of Supreme Court, Delhi High Court and all District Courts of the city and NCR will hold a peaceful candle march on Friday. Family members of victims will also join the march. The voice for justice for Bengal will now echo in Delhi.”
He further said: “The fight for justice will now be fought nationally, India will fight for justice, India will fight for Bengal.”
Women were dragged out of their homes and raped. In the Midnapore district, one ageing grandmother aged 65 plus was also allegedly gang-raped in front of her grandchildren.
“The whole family was made to stand and watch. This case is being investigated by the CBI,” he added.
In another incident, a minor girl was picked up by a Govt. ambulance and was raped in the chamber of the Medical Superintendent. The local police did not even bother to register an FIR, and now CBI is also looking into the case.
In Burdwan District, a karyakarta of a particular opposition political party was beaten so severely in the police station that his death ensued in custody. CBI has conducted a preliminary inquiry in this case.
“Men were told to leave their homes and leave the women behind. They were told not to return for 7 days if they wanted to see their family again. Needless to say the women were brutally raped,” it has been alleged.
People later approach the Calcutta High Court for protection to return to their homes.
The delegation leaders also alleged that internal displacement within West Bengal since May 2, 2021, is more than 25,000.
Out of fear of persecution or death, many people have left their homes and moved to other districts/cities. There have been at least over 300 murders since2016 in the state and 50 cases of rape.
Of course, the legal fraternity has led the fight against such atrocities from the front, and in some cases, the Calcutta High Court also deemed it fit to direct CBI investigation into the massive human rights violations.
