Post-poll violence in West Bengal leading to internal displacement: Plea in Supreme Court seeks rehabilitation of alleged victims, SIT

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court claiming that post-poll violence in West Bengal has led to an exodus of people and internal displacement in the State..It is claimed that the police and "state-sponsored goons" are in cahoots, owing to which the former are not investigating cases and are failing to provide protection to those who are facing threats to their lives..The petition further contends,"....due to the abovementioned circumstances, people are internally displaced and are forced to stay in Shelter Homes/Camps in and outside West Bengal. The Exodus of the people in West Bengal due to state sponsored violence has posed serious humanitarian issues related to their survival, where they are forced to live in deplorable conditions, in violation of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.".The plea was argued by Senior Advocate Pinky Anand before a vacation bench of Justices Vineet Saran and BR Gavai, seeking the following reliefs:Direct Centre to discharge its duty vested under Article 355 of the Constitution of India to protect the state from internal disturbance. Constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incidents of political violence and targeted killings in the State as well as to determine whether the State machinery has been complicit with the perpetrators of violence. Provide immediate relief to the internally displaced persons affected due to post-poll violence by setting up camps, making provision for food, medicines, pandemic resources, etc. Direction to Centre to constitute an Inquiry Commission to assess the scale and causes of the exodus, and direction to State government to provide long-term relief to the internally displaced persons by making provision for their rehabilitation, compensation for loss of family members, property, livelihood, mental and emotional agony. Direct Centre to deploy central protection forces, including armed forces, for the restoration of law and order in the State of West Bengal. Directions for setting up and/or establishing a fast-track court to adjudicate the matters pertaining to the prosecution of any individual or organization.The matter will be heard on May 28, 2021..Filed through Advocate-on-Record Shruti Agarwal, the petition claims that owing to the indifference of the State government, more than eighteen political activists have lost their lives, sexual violence has been committed against women with opposing political views, and loot, arson and destruction of both private and property have been committed in broad daylight..Further, it is claimed that several families have been forced out of their home, leading to a humanitarian crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic..(Read order)