'NIA Investigation Is Required': Former Patna Chief Justice After Fact-Finding Team Stopped From Visiting Bengal's Hooghly

West Bengal police prevented a six-member fact-finding team led by former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy from visiting the Hooghly district.

CRPF jawans conduct march to maintain peace after the order of Calcutta High Court following recent clashes in Hooghly.

Source : File Photo/PTI

New Delhi: A former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Narasimha Reddy on Sunday said that NIA investigation is required for Rishra and Shibpur violence cases, reported news agency ANI.

NIA investigation is required for Rishra and Shibpur violence cases. We need NIA for examining to know if these riots were conducted in a concerted manner. There are clear points that in both cases police are responsible for the incident: Narasimha Reddy, former Chief Justice of… pic.twitter.com/sCjpRqLNDh

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2023

West Bengal police prevented a six-member fact-finding team led by former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy from visiting the Hooghly district, which has been hit by violence.

 

On Sunday, the team members were prevented from entering the district by a stop near the Nabanna toll plaza, according to information.

 

According to Narasimha Reddy, the police CrPC states that section 144 has been imposed in the area.

 

"They (police) are saying that CrPC section 144 has been imposed but nothing is here. They are scared because they will be exposed," said Narasimha Reddy while speaking to ANI.

 

On Friday, Muslim leaders of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) were prevented from entering the violent Rishra town in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.

 

Addressing ANI, an ISF leader, who was essential for the appointment, said, "The situation here is not that bad. Some political forces are trying to stoke tension and violence. Locals of Rishra are peace-loving and united but some people did try to incite trouble here. Our objective was to go to Rishra and talk to the local administration on the prevailing situation." "We believe in our Constitution and take a lot of pride in it. so, if the administration asks us not to visit a particular place, we won't dispute that and take the law into our hands," he added.

 

The ISF leader stated, "The incidents have scarred both the communities and have put fear in their minds. We just wanted to ask the local administration why they haven't been able to restore normalcy and calm to the town yet." 

 

Following the conflicts and stone-pelting at police staff around Ram Navami, a sizeable contingent of security personnel has been deployed in the area.

 

On April 2, at a Shobha Yatra (march) organized by BJP supporters in Hooghly, a fight broke out. On April 3, the Eastern Railway was forced to cancel all suburban and long-distance express train services to and from Rishra railway station due to another incident of stone-pelting in the town of Rishra.