Seven judicial officers, including three women, involved in the SIR process in poll-bound West Bengal were held hostage by a group of protesters over the deletion of names from the electoral rolls.
A five-year-old child of one of the officers was also inside.
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| Goondaism at Display : Egiye Bangla |
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.
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.
The top court has issued show-cause notices to senior State officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police, for their inaction.
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.
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".
“We are extremely disappointed to note these developments. Our previous order clearly reflects that judicial officers, who are entrusted with adjudicating the SIR process, must be allowed to perform their duties without fear or obstruction.
The incident that took place is brazen and strikes at the very root of the rule of law. It amounts to a direct challenge to the authority of the Court. This was not a spontaneous act but appears to be a well-planned and deliberate attempt to demoralise judicial officers and obstruct the ongoing process of adjudication of objections.
We will not permit any individual or group to take the law into their own hands or to create psychological fear in the minds of judicial officers.
This conduct undoubtedly amounts to criminal contempt of court. It also exposes the failure of the State administration.
The conduct of the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Collector, and Superintendent of Police is highly deplorable.
"Accordingly, we issue show-cause notices to them as to why effective measures were not taken.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is directed to seek the deployment of central forces to protect the judicial officers.
Taking cognisance of yesterday’s incident, we further direct that no obstruction or impediment shall be caused to the ongoing adjudication process.
We reiterate that this Court shall ensure that the life, property, and family members of the judicial officers are duly protected”, the court noted.
Of course the new chief secretary and DGP were posted by the poll panel only recently after the EC had ordered shunting out of their predecessors -- who were blue-eyed Babus of the Chief Minister.
West 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.
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