The West Bengal government has criticised the National Human Rights Commission’s report to the Calcutta High Court on the post-Assembly el...
The West Bengal government has criticised the National Human Rights Commission’s report to the Calcutta High Court on the post-Assembly election violence that erupted in the state in May, NDTV reported on Tuesday. The government described the report as false and biased.
The Trinamool Congress had won the bitterly-fought election. Violence broke out in the state after the results were declared, leading to the deaths of workers from the state’s ruling party as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party. Various news reports put the toll between 11 and 14, but the police did not confirm the numbers. Reports also emerged about sexual assaults on women.
On June 18, the High Court directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a seven-member committee to investigate complaints related the violence. The court repeatedly criticised the West Bengal government’s handling of the matter.
In an affidavit filed before the court on Monday, the state government alleged that the committee was formed to “spearhead a witch hunt” against it, the Hindustan Times reported. “In conclusion it is stated that concerted efforts are being made by those behind the Committee to completely discredit a democratically elected state government.”
The West Bengal government told the court that members of the committee were either associated with the BJP or had a...
