Birbhum violence: Petitioner suspects police may destroy evidence, wants case be transferred to CBI

In connection with the incident at Rampurhat, the West Bengal state govt has suspended Sub Division Police Office (SDPO) Rampurhat, Sayan Ahmad. He is transferred to Officer on Compulsory Waiting (OCW) WBPD.

The TMC leadership on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Birbhum killings, stating that it negated the BJP's demand for imposition of President's Rule in West Bengal. Modi, on Wednesday, described the killings in Birbhum as "heinous", and said the culprits should not be forgiven. He hoped that the state government would take all necessary steps to punish the perpetrators.

A fact-finding committee of the BJP on Thursday visited Bogtui village in Bengal’s Birbhum district, where eight people were burnt alive earlier this week, and spoke to the locals as well as the relatives of the victims there. The team, comprising former Uttar Pradesh DGP Brij Lal, Mumbai ex-police commissioner Satya Pal Singh and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, assured all help to the families of those killed in the violence that broke out after a TMC panchayat official's murder. "We have come here to witness the situation in the aftermath of the mass murder. This (TMC) government has lost its moral right to govern. What happened in Bogtui is a shame for humanity," Majumdar told reporters after visiting the village.

NHRC issues notice to West Bengal government state police chief in connection with killing of eight people at Bogtui village in Birbhum district

"West Bengal is in a state of anarchy. After the Assembly elections in 2021, BJP workers' houses were set ablaze. These killings (Birbhum violence) are happening under the aegis of govt. People are living in an atmosphere of terror.  State has nexus of criminals, officials & political party instead of democracy. Dissidents against govt are either manhandled or are murdered. Governor is also treated in this manner.If situation aggravates like this, we'll demand President's rule," BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya

Petitioner told the Calcutta High Court that the police may destroy evidence and demanded that the case should be transferred to CBI.

The BJP has launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as she visited Bogtui village in Birbhum district where eight people were burnt alive earlier this week. The BJP as well as Congress and other Opposition parties have been targeting Mamata over the brutal incident while stressing that law and order have collapsed completely in Bengal under Trinamool Congress' rule. FULL STORY 

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on the Birbhum incident - This is a shameful event and an indelible scar on Governance. The burning of people alive in a democracy in this manner is very painful. I appeal to the govt to learn the lessons rather than offering defence: 

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed the Mamata Banerjee government over poor law and order situation in West Bengal. He said that the administration had received instructions that the police should not be allowed to reach there (incident site). "The ambulance was not allowed to reach there," he said.

Suspects of Rampurhat killings will have to be hunted out, arrested unless they surrender: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was on Thursday prevented from entering West Bengal's Bogtui village. "We cannot allow him (Chowdhury) to visit Bogtui as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to arrive at the village shortly. We cannot take any chance with the law and order situation, which is presently under control. We fear that his visit may disturb the peace," a senior district police officer said.

Mamata Banerjee said that families of the 10 people who died in fire will be given a job and Rs 5 lakhs. Mamata is visiting Bogtui village in Rampurhat  today. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hands over a cheque of Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of those killed in Birbhum violence. Financial aid of Rs 2 lakhs will be given for reconstructing affected houses. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asserted that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators of violence in Birbhum district, where eight people were charred to death in a village.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind urging him to invoke Article 355 in West Bengal to ensure that the government is run in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. READ FULL STORY 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, described the killings as “heinous” and said the culprits should not be forgiven. READ FULL STORY 

After meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, "We've said that Governor of West Bengal should be removed, in view of the Rampurhat, Birbhum incident. His work is against our constitutional system. Parliamentary democratic system is under threat." "We've given a copy of the letter by the CM for governor, to the Home Min... Our CM is catering to the situation in a fine manner. 21 persons have been arrested so far, 15 police officials have been asked to go on leave. No guilty person will be spared."

The eight people who were burnt alive in Bogtui village in West Bengal's Birbhum district were badly beaten up before the carnage, their autopsy report has revealed. 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 from Rampurhat hospital said. FULL STORY 

The court has asked the state government to produce the case diary/report in the case before it by 2 pm on Thursday, when the matter will be taken up for hearing again. It had directed the state to ensure that evidence at the place of occurrence remains intact.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava, taking up a suo motu petition and a set of PILs seeking an independent probe into the incident, had yesterday ordered the immediate installation of CCTV cameras covering all angles of the crime scene in the presence of district judge, Purba Bardhaman, and recordings be done until further orders. Besides, the bench, also comprising Justice R Bharadwaj, directed Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Delhi to immediately collect necessary materials for forensic examination from the site.

Indian Youth Congress moves NHRC against alleged violation of human rights of residents of Baktui village of Birbhum, West Bengal, demanding an independent investigation in the matter.

TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah at 1 pm, today: TMC sources