A division bench of Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the Criminal Investigation Department to file by May 5 a status report on the firing by central forces during the April 10 polling in the Sitalkuchi Assembly segment of Cooch Behar district.
The order was issued by the division bench comprising Chief Justice T.B.N. Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee on two separate public interest litigations seeking a judicial probe.
The CID had on Thursday taken over the probe into the firing by Central Industrial Security Force at Jorpatki village. Four youths had been killed in the firing.
During the fourth phase of the Assembly elections on Saturday, CISF personnel deployed at Amtali MSK booth at Jorpatki had opened fire on a section of villagers.
The counsel appearing for the Election Commission informed the court during the hearing on Friday that two complaints had been lodged with the panel on the firing.
Besides seeking a judicial probe, the petitioners had also sought adequate compensation from the commission to the next of kin of the victims. The Bengal government’s counsel informed the court that the state administration had already expressed its desire to provide compensation to the bereaved families.
The commission’s lawyer said his client was also ready to provide compensation to the family members of the victims but the amount would have to be distributed through the district magistrate in their capacity as the district election officer.
The commission’s lawyer, however, did not refer to the quantum of compensation it would like to pay.
The court then fixed the matter for hearing on May 5. On that date, the bench will take a further decision after going through the report submitted by the CID.
Adhir files PIL
Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Choudhury on Friday filed a PIL in the high court demanding a CBI probe into the firing under the supervision of the judiciary.