Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday
directed the West Bengal government to explain its position on
the Lalgarh firing of January 7 while hearing a PIL seeking a
CBI probe into the incident that claimed seven lives.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice J N Patel
and Justice A K Roy directed the West Bengal Principal
Secretary (Home) to file the affidavit by January 13.
The bench directed the state government to explain its
position on the prayers for a CBI probe on the existence of
armed camps and the plea for interim compensation to the kin
of the dead and injured on the PIL by the Bar Association of
the high court.
The state produced the case diary in the matter
which was registered at Lalgarh police station, but it did not
contain the seizure list.
Noting that police reached several hours late and an
FIR was lodged about 11 hours after the firing at Netai
village, the division bench had yesterday directed the state
to submit the case diary in the court.
In a separate PIL, which was heard together, counsel
Kalyan Banerjee prayed for a direction for dismantling of
armed camps allegedly run by CPI-M armed cadre.
The bench directed Banerjee to produce a list of the
camps existing in Lalgarh and adjoining areas in West
Midnapore district, which was till recently dominated by
Maoists, but has largely been reclaimed by CPI-M.
The court adjourned the matter till January 14, when
it would be taken up for hearing again.
PTI
