3 arrested for killing of BJP workers in WB

New Delhi The West Bengal government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that three people have been arrested in connection with the alleged killing of two BJP workers in poll-related violence on May 2 in the State and FIRs have been registered in these cases.

The State government told a vacation bench of Justices Vineet Saran and B R Gavai that investigation is going on. The apex court asked the respondents, including the Centre, West Bengal government and National Human Rights Commission, to file counter affidavits on the plea by the victims' kin seeking court monitored probe and transfer of cases to the CBI or Special Investigation Team (SIT).

"You file your counter affidavits. We will have it after two weeks," the bench said. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for West Bengal, told the top court that a five-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court is dealing with the matter related to post poll violence in the State and it had also passed some directions on May 18.

"FIRs stand registered and they are under investigation. Three persons have been arrested in these cases which were lodged based on the complaints," Luthra said.

He said the issue regarding post poll violence was listed for hearing on Tuesday before the High Court. The bench asked Luthra and counsel appearing for other respondents to file their counter affidavits and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

On May 18, the apex court had issued notices to the Centre, West Bengal government and others seeking their responses on the plea filed by Biswajit Sarkar, whose elder brother was killed and co-petitioner Swaranalata Adhikari, whose husband was also killed in poll related violence.

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the petitioners, had said that this is a very serious case and the State has not been taking any action into the brutal killing of two BJP workers, which happened on the day of counting of votes for assembly elections. He had argued that matter required to be probed by an agency like the CBI or a SIT under court supervision, as the State police has not been taking any action despite a complaint being made.