SIR: The Supreme Court of India has blasted the West Bengal Government under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee over the hostage drama related to 7 judicial officers, including three women and a 5-year-old child of an officer, during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
SIR Hostage Drama-Turn Of Events
Seven judicial officers involved in the SIR process were visiting the poll-bound state of West Bengal. They were held hostage for about 9 hours by a group of angry protestors in Malda district over their name deletions from the electoral rolls.
DON'T MISS
The Supreme Court called West Bengal the “most polarized state” and said the West Bengal government was involved in a “criminal failure.” The SC went on to comment that the entire incident was motivated and pre-planned. It has now directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to entrust the probe to either Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
On Wednesday, massive protest erupted outside the state’s Kaliachak II Block Development Office (BDO) over name deletions from electoral rolls. The protestors demanded a meeting with the judicial officers but their request was denied. They gheraoed the BDO office around 4 pm and took 7 judicial officers as hostage.
This included 3 women and a 5-year-old child of one of the judicial officers. All could be rescued around 1 am by a team of police members. While the officers were evacuated, protestors hurled stones at the police van. Soon, protests escalated to adjoining areas and NH 12 was blocked with furniture and bamboo by protestors.
Sukanta Majumdar, BJP Bengal president and Union Minister, blasted the West Bengal government for allowing the situation to get out of hand.
Supreme Court Of India Verdict
SC Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi pulled up the DGP, the Chief Secretary, the Superintendent of Police and the Malda district collector. The CJI remarked that he had to instruct harsh orders at night to save the hostages and added the government allowed a 5-year-old to be made hostage and with no access to water and food.
