The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to produce a detailed report by tomorrow on violence in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, where 8 people were burnt alive.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi directed the DGP to protect all evidence related to the incident and directed the police to give protection to the eyewitness.

The bench has taken up suo-moto hearing of the case directed the state government, to ensure that evidence on the spot remains intact and witnesses are protected.

"We at the first instance give an opportunity to the State to produce the case diary/ report about the investigation by tomorrow 2 PM. Report relating to an investigation done until now to be produced by 2 PM on 24 March," the Chief Justice bench observed before passing an order.

Advocate General SN Mookherjee submitted that the investigation is underway and the appropriate directions may be issued for the purpose of protecting the scene of the crime, witnesses

He has also submitted that the forensic team of the State has collected and is in the process of collecting the evidence which is being examined.

Court directions to Mamata government

The state government will immediately install CCTV cameras with DVR having sufficient memory covering all angles of the scene of occurrence and will do continuous recording until further orders. Cameras should be installed in the presence of District Judge, Purba Bardhaman district;

A team from CFSL, Delhi is directed to visit the spot of the incident and collect the necessary material for forensic examination without any delay.

Director-General of Police and Inspector General of Police in consultation with District Judge, Purba Bardhaman district should ensure that witnesses are adequately protected and not threatened or influenced by anyone

Postmortem has already been done. If any remains, then videography of the same should be done and in the report filed before the court it will be disclosed as to whether videography for all postmortems has been done or not, Bar and Bench reported.

Read: https://24x7liveindia.com/bengal-killing-calcutta-hc-takes-suo-moto-hearing

BJP has alleged that TMC workers are behind in brutal killings. It was their retaliation to the murder of local All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bhadu Sheikh, BJP leaders alleged.

The Incident: Sheikh, a TMC leader and Vice President of Boroshal gram panchayat, was killed by some miscreants on March 21 at around 8:30 pm.

This led to a violent backlash in which around 10 to 12 houses were torched and at least 8 persons were burnt alive, Times Now reported. The West Bengal government responded by constituting a special investigation team (SIT).