Seven judicial officers involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in poll-bound West Bengal were allegedly gheraoed for around nine hours in Malda district, with the Supreme Court expressing concern over the incident and directing the deployment of central forces for their safety. Calling Bengal the "most polarised state", the Supreme Court called the incident pre-planned and motivated while directing the Election Commission to entrust the probe to either the NIA or CBI.
A massive protest erupted outside the Kaliachak II Block Development Office (BDO) on Wednesday over the deletion of names from the electoral rolls during the SIR. The protesters first sought a meeting with the judicial officers. However, their request was denied. Around 4 pm, they gheraoed the BDO office, taking the seven judicial officers, including three women, hostage. A five-year-old child of one of the officers was also inside.
HOW WERE THE SIR OFFICERS TAKEN HOSTAGE?
The Election Commission's SIR exercise has become a major flashpoint in the run-up to the Bengal assembly polls. The final voters' list after the SIR process saw over 63 lakh deletions. Another 60 lakh voters were placed "under adjudication".
These judicial officers were involved in reviewing these cases "under adjudication" to decide whether the voters should be retained or deleted from the rolls. This was on directions of the Supreme Court.
Bengal goes to the polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Results will be declared on May 4.
The judicial officers were only rescued after nine hours, at around 1 am, by a police team. The protesters also hurled stones at the police van while the officers were being evacuated.
Visuals on social media showed a car's shattered window glass and angry protesters chasing the police vehicles as the officers were being escorted to safety.
However, the protests escalated and spread to nearby areas as well. A group of protesters also blocked NH 12 with bamboo and furniture. People were also seen burning tyres. Another video showed people cooking on stoves on the street for the protesters, suggesting that they were ready for the long haul.
BJP Bengal president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar blamed the Mamata Banerjee-led government for letting the situation get out of hand. He alleged that the judicial officers faced continuous threats and intimidation during the siege. Majumdar, who is steering the BJP in the elections, claimed the agitators also planned to assault the officers.
WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT SAY?
The matter reached the Supreme Court on Thursday, which called it an attempt to challenge the authority of the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi also blasted the Mamata government, calling it a "criminal failure".
The court also pulled up the chief secretary, the DGP, the Superintendent of Police, and the Malda district collector.
"Till 11 pm, your collector was not there. I had to verbally instruct very harsh orders at night. A 5-year-old child was not allowed food and water," the CJI said, pulling up Bengal's counsel. The CJI noted that the judicial officers were released only after intervention from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
'MOST POLARISED STATE'
Without mincing any words, the top court also said that everyone in Bengal "only speaks political language".
"This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this court... We have never seen such a polarised state. That even in compliance of court orders, politics is reflected," the CJI said.
The top court also passed a slew of directions, directing the ECI to deploy central forces for the safety of all judicial officers. The court also directed the central forces to the residences of judicial officers who fear a threat to their lives.
It also directed the poll body to hand over the investigation into the incident to central agencies.
"We direct ECI to entrust the enquiry /Investigation into the incident to either the CBI or NIA. The compliance report shall be submitted to this court," the Supreme Court said.
Moreover, the CJI asked the police to ensure that not more than 3-5 persons enter the BDO premises where adjudication work is underway at any one time.
The court also directed the chief secretary, DGP, and the district magistrate to show cause why action should not be taken against them. They have been summoned to the court on April 6.
