Calcutta High Court seeks report from police on alleged communal violence during Durga Puja

The Calcutta High Court recently called for a report from the West Bengal police regarding allegations of communal violence during Durga and Lakshmi Puja celebrations in the State [Ritu Singh Vs. State of West Bengal & Ors].

A Division Bench comprising Justice Shabbar Rashidi and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya sought the response of the police after a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by one Ritu Singh alleged that incidents of violence were instigated by a specific religious community when members of another community were performing puja and celebrating Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja festivals in October 2024 across various districts of West Bengal.

“Accordingly, the Superintendents of Police of the concerned districts as well as the Commissioners of Police of the concerned Police Commissionerates who have been impleaded as respondent nos. 11 to 16, are directed to submit a report with regard to steps taken pursuant to the complaints which have been disclosed in this writ petition before the Director General of Police, West Bengal being the fourth respondent on or before November 11, 2024. The Director General of Police shall depute an Additional Director General of Police, who shall collate all such reports submitted before the fourth respondent and file a comprehensive report on or before the next date of hearing,” the bench directed.

The petitioner argued that although complaints had been lodged with local police stations, Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police across different districts, no effective action had been taken.

Due to this alleged inaction, the petitioner contended that transferring the investigation to an independent and impartial body was essential for ensuring justice.

The State contested the maintainability of the petition, asserting that it lacked necessary details and pleadings to justify the transfer of investigation.

The Court directed the Superintendents of Police and the Commissioners of Police from the implicated districts to submit reports detailing their actions following the complaints. These reports are to be forwarded to the Director General of Police, West Bengal.

The Director General was further instructed to appoint an Additional Director General of Police to compile these reports and create a comprehensive summary.

The deadline for submitting these reports to the Director General is November 11.

The Additional Director General of Police has to submit a comprehensive summary of all reports before the next hearing on November 14.

The Court also kept the issue of the PIL’s maintainability open, stating that it would be further examined at the next hearing.

Advocates Sudip Sarkar and Subrata Mondal appeared for petitioner.

Advocate General Kishore Datta, Additional Advocate General Swapan Banerjee, advocates Sumita Shaw and Diptendu Narayan Banerjee represented the state.

[Read Order]