Government refuses to act against cop

KOLKATA: Relations between the state government and the state human rights commission seem to have hit a rough patch again with the former refusing to take action against then inspector in charge of Burdwan police station Prasun Banerjee.

On July 9, the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) had recommended Banerjee's suspension and initiation of departmental proceedings against him. The commission received a reply from the state government on Monday in which it stated that no action against the police officer will be taken.

The WBHRC's suggestion comes in relation to a case dating four years back. On June 4, 2008 Lakshmi Das had lodged a complaint with the rights panel alleging that her son Subrata was poisoned to death owing to police indifference.

According to the complaint by the Natun Colony resident, Burdwan police station refused to register an FIR on the case. Subsequently, Das filed a petition in the Burdwan CJM court. Despite a court direction to initiate an investigation into the case immediately, the police kept delaying the matter, only to take it up seven months later, the complaint stated.

Banerjee, the then inspector-in-charge of Burdwan police station, who is now serving as an inspector in IB, had failed to appear before the commission on several occasions. When he finally deposed before the panel on July 3 this year, the police officer reportedly explained that 'since Burdwan police station was a busy police station, the court complaint received by the police station on April 4, 2008 did not come to his knowledge'.

The human rights commission observed this as gross dereliction of duty on part of Banerjee. The commission further noted that Banerjee failed to maintain law and order.

Thereafter on July 9, the commission sent its recommendation to the state government to suspend Banerjee within two weeks and take appropriate departmental proceedings against him within six weeks of receiving the communication. The state government was also asked to inform the commission on the action taken within three months. "The government's response to the commission's recommendation came after over five months. And it has rejected the recommendation completely," said a source in WBHRC.

Rights activists have condemned the government's move. "This will encourage police to resort to more human rights violation cases in future," said Ranjit Sur, state secretariat member of Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR).

While she was in the opposition, the Maa Mati Maanush Chief Minister of Bengal was always talking of human rights violation and demanded all sorts f priveledges for herself.

Now that she is in power, she brooks no dissent.

Anybody criticizing her is called a Maoist and the police told to arrest the person. How long are we to bear this torture.Until the next election.

But then, will the CPM return, who are probably worse.

No!

Let us bring Arvind Kejriwal and AAP.