Calcutta HC forms SIT with CBI to probe mob attack on ED

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court constituted a special investigation team (SIT), comprising the Central Bureau of Investigation and West Bengal police officers, on Wednesday to probe the violent mob attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths during their raid on the house of absconding Trinamul Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas in the ration scam on January 5.

Justice Joy Sengupta of the HC passed the order after hearing the arguments of the Mamata Banerjee government and the ED which earlier moved a petition against the attack and challenged the FIR filed against its officials by the police. 

The judge ruled that the CBI and the state police would be represented by a superintendent of police (SP)-rank officer from each side and both the wings will have equal number of personnel in the SIT which can requisition central forces if needed.

Justice



Sengupta however barred any cop of Nyajat police station, under the nose of which the attack took place, from becoming a member of the SIT. He also directed the SIT to submit a progress report of it's probe before him by February 12, the next date of hearing in the case. The Mamata Banerjee government has nominated IPS officer Jaspreet Singh, serving as SP(Islampur police district) in North Dinajpur to represent the state police in the SIT.

It is not however clear who will represent the CBI in the SIT. On Tuesday the HC ordered the installation of CCTV cameras by the police outside the house of the prime accused Shahjahan at Sarberia in Sandeshkhali to collect information about his whereabouts. It had also wondered why he was yet to surrender when his lawyer prayed to Justice Sengupta to allow his client to be a party in the case but withdraw the plea in the face of queries by the judge.