Birbhum Violence: CBI Names 21 Accused On Suspected Offence Of Armed Rioting

The accused have been named under Sections 147, 148, 149, and other Sections in the FIR on suspected offence of armed rioting, ANI reported.

Birbhum violence: CBI forensic team at Bogtui village in Rampurhat. (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which today began its probe into the violence in West Bengal’s Birbhum, has named 21 accused in connection with the case.

The accused have been named under Sections 147, 148, 149, and other Sections in the FIR on suspected offence of armed rioting, ANI reported.

Earlier in the day, officials of the probe agency’s forensic team reached the Bogtui village in Rampurhat to investigate the matter.

A 15-member CBI team, including CFSL experts from Delhi, led by DIG ranked officer joined the Birbhum killing case, which is monitored by a Joint Director-level officer.

Earlier on Friday, the Calcutta High Court handed over the Birbhum violence case to the CBI and asked the state government-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to stop its investigation and hand over all documents and arrested people to the central agency.

Stating “full cooperation” must be extended to the CBI, the High Court directed the probe agency to file a primary investigation report during the next hearing on April 7.

This development came after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed demanding an inquiry by a central agency.

This incident has stirred a political row with the BJP escalating its attack on the TMC.

Earlier this week, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee hit back at the BJP and said that the incident was an attempt to defame her government.

Banerjee on Thursday visited the Bogtui village and met the kin of those killed in the violence. She handed over a cheque of Rs five lakh to the kin of those killed in the violence.

Eight people, including two children, were charred to death earlier on Tuesday after a mob set houses on fire in Bogtui village in Birbhum district following the killing of local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bhadu Sheikh.