The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accused West Bengal police of non-cooperation during the probe of Beldanga violence case in Murshidabad. NIA claims that despite multiple efforts, the case diary wasn’t handed over to the central probe agency by state police authority. NIA also alleges that they could not take 31 arrested accused in their custody due to alleged negligence of state police. However, West Bengal police have denied every allegation raised against them citing legal complication.
Severe violence erupted in Murshidabad’s Beldanga in January after the death of migrant workers in other states. A peaceful protest turned into violent protest later, resulting in arson and vandalism. Several cops and journalists were injured at the protest site. Government and private properties were damaged by the protesters. Railway track and national highway was also blocked for long time.
A public interest litigation was filed before the Kolkata High Court seeking NIA investigation to probe the violence. After an order passed by the Kolkata High Court, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed central terror probe agency NIA to take charge of probe of the violence erupted in Murshidabad’s Beldanga after death of migrant workers in other states.
Complying with the order, a team of the central agency reached Murshidabad, visited the place of occurrence and re-registered the case, which was initially registered by Beldanga Police Station after in incident.
But the conflict escalated between the central probe and the state police authority when the case diary was sought by NIA. NIA source told Times Now, that despite having specific court order, Bengal police did not hand them over the case diary from Beldanga police station so far.
NIA also wanted to take 31 arrested accused into their custody for interrogation who are lodging in jail now but not a single prisoner was produced before the court for production. February 5 was the scheduled date for the production of accused but it was seen, the jail super states before the court that he has failed to produce under trial prisoners citing security reasons. The alleged delay and negligence resulted in a pause in the investigation, NIA source told Times Now.
After being failed to produce 31 arrested accused before the court, Berhampur jail superintendent tells court, they were not provided escort and police guards by district police administration to take the prisoners to court. The court has expressed its concern over the allegations raised by central probe agency against the state probe agency.
Following the series of allegations of non-cooperation against West Bengal police, NIA special court in Kolkata has directed the Superintendent of police of Murshidabad to personally submit a report in this regard by the next date of hearing. The court has also directed investigation officer of Beldanga police station to physically appear before the court and explain on why he has failed to comply with the order. He has also been directed to submit a written explanation for his failure. Along with this, the Berhampur jail super has been directed to produce all the prisoners before the court on the next date of hearing fixed on February 12 without failure.
However, Bengal police source has completely denied the allegation of non-cooperation. Police official told Times Now, “When the NIA team took over the charge of investigation, a sudden reshuffling of IPS officers took place in state state and as result, the then police superintendent of Murshidabad was transferred and IPS Dhritiman Sarkar took over the charge as new SP. Due to the reshuffling in district administration, the process got delayed initially, apart from this delay, there was a legal complication behind the fact.”
A senior official told Times Now, “Since West Bengal government has already filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging the NIA probe and the matter is pending before the apex court, therefore it’s being delayed as legal aspects are being discussed with the council. Legal advises are also being discussed since the matter is subjudiced.”
“There were no intentions of non-cooperation from their end,” a top police source told Times Now.
