Judge recuses from Bengal violence case

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 18

Justice Indira Banerjee of the Supreme Court on Friday recused from hearing a petition filed by kin of two BJP workers allegedly killed by TMC activists in post-poll violence in West Bengal seeking a court-monitored SIT probe.

“I have some difficulty in hearing this matter. Let this matter be listed before another Bench,” Justice Banerjee said at the very outset of the proceedings.

The top court had on May 18 asked the Centre and the West Bengal Government to respond to the plea filed by Biswajit Sarkar, whose elder brother was killed and co-petitioner Swaranalata Adhikari, whose husband was killed in poll-related violence.

They have said this is a matter which requires probe by an agency like CBI or a SIT under court’s supervision, as the state police has not been taking any action despite a complaint being made.

The petition alleged that Abhijit Sarkar was killed on May 2 by a mob comprising 20 TMC supporters which entered the house of Biswajit Sarkar, dragged his elder brother Abhijit and killed him in front of his mother and other family members.