Two separate petitions, including a Public Interest Litigation, were filed before the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, seeking an investigation by central agencies into the recent assault on BJP MP Khagen Murmu in Nagrakata, West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district.
Murmu, a Member of Parliament from Maldaha Uttar, and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh were allegedly attacked on October 6 while distributing relief materials in flood-affected areas of North Bengal.
Stone-Pelting And Assault In Flood Zone
According to reports, the convoy of the 2 leaders came under attack when they entered Nagrakata. The vehicles were pelted with stones, sticks, and shoes, and both Murmu and Ghosh were allegedly manhandled.
Murmu sustained serious injuries and was first rushed to a state-run hospital before being shifted to a private facility in Jalpaiguri, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit.
PIL Seeks NIA Probe, Inclusion of SC/ST Provisions
Advocate Anindiya Sundor Das filed a PIL before the High Court, demanding a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the attack. The petition also urged the inclusion of Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) provisions in the case, noting that Murmu belongs to the ST community.
The plea further argues that the incident took place near an international border, and investigators should examine whether any cross-border elements or infiltrators were involved.
“We have asked for an NIA investigation into the matter as it has taken place in the border area. The court has allowed us to file the matter,” Advocate Anindiya Sundor Das told media.
The vacation bench of Justice Kausik Chanda and Justice Reetobrata Kumar Mitra permitted the filing of the PIL and listed the matter for hearing on October 14.
Separate Plea Alleges Police Inaction
In a related development, BJP leader Bijon Goswami also filed a separate petition before the single bench of Justice Om Narayan Rai, accusing the local police of inaction in the case.
Appearing for Goswami, Advocate Mayukh Mukherjee argued that the police had failed to act promptly, despite the gravity of the incident.
“The police were not performing their duty; they had not taken any steps. All CCTVs have to be taken and culprits have to be identified and arrested,” Mukherjee submitted, while pressing for an NIA & CBI investigation.
Both petitions are expected to come up for a detailed hearing next week.
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