Kolkata: The Justice NC Sil Commission, which probed the police firing at Dinhata in Coochbehar in February, 2008, justified the police action in which five AIFB supporters and one NVF personnel were killed.
The report of the commission, which was submitted to the government in August, 2010 and was placed in the Assembly today by parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee, justified the firing that took place during the former Left Front regime.
According to the findings, the AIFB (All India Forward Bloc) processionists, armed with bamboo sticks, became violent and aggressive within a short span of time.
They ignored the repeated warnings of the police and started assaulting them, the report said.
To disperse the crowd, the police proceeded step by step, first declaring the assembly unlawful followed by lathicharge, firing tear gas shells and finally resorted to firing as an extreme step to save lives of others and public property.
According to the report, police arrangements were appropriate and they were found to be justified.
The report, however, indicted two combat police personnel Punam Koirala and Sunil Roy for not being careful at the time of firing.
The minister said the findings of the report would be discussed in the cabinet and accordingly action would be taken.
PTI
