Lalgarh killings: Supreme Court slams WB Govt. for opposing CBI probe

New Delhi, Mar 1 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticized the West Bengal Government for raising objections to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the January 7 killings in Lalgarh's Netai village.

An apex court bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly, while refusing to stay the order issued by the Calcutta High Court, said: "It is very unfortunate that West Bengal Government can't accept the authority of the highest judicial court and the High Court."

The Supreme Court also asked the West Bengal Government to submit 'all correspondence between the Home Minister and the Chief Minister following Netai killings' before it by March 3.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for West Bengal Government, contended there were 'political overtones' in the orders of the High Court.

he Calcutta High Court had earlier on February 18 directed the CBI to probe the January 7 killings in Lalgarh"s Netai village.

The orders of the court came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Calcutta Bar Association in January demanding a CBI probe into the incident.

"You should go to the top to find out who ordered the setting of the armed camps in the Lalgarh area," the court said rapping the CBI.

Earlier on January 19, the court refused to order the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to probe the January 7 killings in Lalgarh"s Netai village.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI probe into the Lalgarh killings, the court directed the state CID to continue to probe the matter.

In an interim order, the court, however, said it would monitor the progress of the investigation by the CID.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice J N Patal and Justice A K Roy also directed the West Bengal Government to pay compensation to the kin of the dead and those injured in the incident within seven days.

The court directed the Joint Forces to find out if armed camps existed in the Jangalmahal area and to destroy them if they are found.

The state CID on February 13 put media insertions of six fugitives accused in the Netai carnage announcing Rs 50,000 cash prize to those, who would help the police trace them.

Nine villagers were killed in Lalgarh"s Netai village after gunmen fired on a crowd, allegedly from inside a CPM "camp" on the morning of January 7. (ANI)