Calcutta HC Allows Central Govt To Deploy CAPFs In West Bengal Amid Post-Poll Violence

West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has recently welcomed the decision of Calcutta High Court to give the Central Government full discretion to deploy Central Armed Paramilitary Forces in West Bengal to save the victims of Post Poll Violence and termed the decision as historic.

Case Details

Adhikari shared his thoughts on X, stating, “One more failure of the State Machinery has come to the forefront. The Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta in a Public Interest Litigation filed by me to save the victims from Post Poll Violence has essentially conferred the entire discretion of deploying Central Armed Paramilitary Forces in West Bengal to the Central Government. I welcome this historic decision of the Hon’ble Court which will save a lot of lives in this failed State of West Bengal.”

Following the Lok Sabha 2024 election results, there were numerous reports of post-poll violence across several regions in West Bengal. BJP workers were allegedly attacked, and their offices vandalized. On June 13, Suvendu Adhikari was prevented by police from entering the Raj Bhavan to meet with West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, accompanied by alleged victims of this violence.

History

Earlier this month, Adhikari had written to Governor Bose, expressing concerns over the All India Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) alleged involvement in the violence. He urged the Governor to take preventive measures to avoid a recurrence of such incidents after the 2024 elections. In his letter, Adhikari claimed that the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces deployed post-elections were not being used effectively to control the escalating violence, where BJP workers were targeted by TMC goons.

In a related incident, local BJP workers reported that their party office in Goragacha, Taratala, was demolished without any prior notice from the local administration. Speaking to ANI, BJP worker MB Mahesh said, “I don’t understand why the BJP office was demolished by a bulldozer without notice…They are doing this because BJP strengthening its presence here…Nearby there is a TMC office where illegal activities are carried out.”

These developments highlight the ongoing political tensions and violence in West Bengal, and the significant implications of the High Court’s decision for the state’s law and order situation.

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