Pressure mounted on the West Bengal government on Tuesday after a five-member fact-finding committee submitted a detailed report on the alleged post-poll violence in the state to the Union Home ministry. The committee members include former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli, former Chief Secretary Anand Bose, retired DGP Nirmal Kaur, and retired IAS Madan Gopal.
The committee has criticised the state administration, with the report saying that the post-poll violence could have been controlled had the administration and police acted in time. The Member Secretary of this committee contacted the Chief Secretary on 20 May 2021 to seek views of the state government. The Chief Secretary sent a reply requesting the Member Secretary to contact the Home Secretary. The Member Secretary sent two messages and a reminder e-mail, but “unfortunately the Home department did not respond”. The report of the fact-finding committee may be placed before the Supreme Court.
Citing reports, it said that over 25 people, including women, were murdered; over 15,000 violent incidents took place, 7,000 women were molested, and 16 out of 26 districts of Bengal were affected. A large number of people, fearing death, migrated to the neighbouring states of Assam, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Three members of the fact-finding committee—Anand Bose, Nirmal Kaur and Madan Gopal—went to Bengal on a field visit on 15 May 2021. The findings of the committee are from the night of 2 May 2021 when violence following the announcement of poll results allegedly started across the state. According to the committee, this is a clear indication that most of the incidents are “pre medicated” and “organised”. Mafia dons and criminal gangs, who were already in the police records, led and carried out the attacks. It was a targeted destruction and had the purpose to deprive the livelihoods and choking the victims economically.
The report said: “The magnitude and reach of the post-poll violence touched many villages and towns all across the state simultaneously, beginning from the night of 2 May 2021. This is a clear indication that most of the incidents are not sporadic but premeditated, organised and conspiratorial.”
The report further said: “It is noteworthy that in most of the incidents, the leaders, followers, field-level functionaries, voters, family members belonging to a particular political party were targeted.”
As per the report, “In most of the cases, victims were afraid to lodge a complaint with the police either due to fear of reprisal or due to the lack of faith in the police. Those victims who gathered courage to go to the police were either turned away or flatly refused to register the case. Many people left to fend for themselves, leaving their homes and villages for safer destinations, to shelter camps within and outside the state.”
“Victims from Phoolimari (1 and 2), Rampur left their homes out of fear and threat to their lives and took shelter at the Sri Rampur Hindu School at Kokrajhar district in Assam. Similarly, many victims are at the Pokalagi, Ronpagli and Chhagulia relief camps in Dhubri district and at Tamarhat camp in Kokrajhar district in Assam,” the report said.
According to the report, goons forcibly took away the Aadhaar cards and ration cards from the victims and demanded a written undertaking not to support the particular political party. “The horrific atrocities on women cannot be described in any language as on the fateful night of 2 May and on subsequent nights, groups of goondas, ruffians, and supporters belonging to the ruling party entered the homes and brutally raped and molested women. Tragically, even elderly women were also not spared. In most of the cases, the local police became silent spectators and even refused to receive complaints from aggrieved people,” the report said.
“In a particular instance, a sole hand-pump, which catered to the drinking water needs of a community, was destroyed and the connecting bridge to the said village demolished by using a JCB to isolate the villagers who voted against the ruling party candidates.”
The report said: “The government should initiate disciplinary proceedings on those delinquent officers, including All-India Service Officers, who failed to discharge their duties in protecting lives and prevent destruction of properties. The services of retired Judges of High Courts or Supreme Court should be sought to head this inquiry proceedings.”