Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to provide documents related to the recent arrests made during the ‘Nabanna’ march, a protest held on 27 August against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital. The court’s order comes in response to a petition questioning the arrest and subsequent release of four individuals linked to the demonstration.
A bench led by Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj heard the case on Monday, probing the rationale behind the arrests and the legal procedures followed by the police. The court expressed concern over the decision to detain the four individuals and then release them within 24 hours. “Were proper procedures followed in taking them into custody?” Justice Bhardwaj asked.
Representing the West Bengal government, the state’s counsel argued that the arrests were made as a precautionary measure by the Howrah city police, who feared that the individuals could potentially incite serious disturbances during the protest march to ‘Nabanna’, organised by the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj. However, the court questioned the nature of the suspected disturbances and why the individuals were released before the protest on August 27.
Justice Bhardwaj has instructed the state government to submit all relevant documents related to the arrests by Tuesday. The petitioners, represented by lawyer Rajdeep Majumdar, have alleged that the detentions were unlawful and are seeking compensation and action against those responsible for what they consider to be unjust arrests.
The ‘Nabanna’ march took place against the backdrop of widespread outrage following the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor, whose body was discovered on 9 August in the seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital. The post-mortem report confirmed the brutal assault, sparking protests across West Bengal and calls for justice from various groups, including student organisations and doctors.
As public anger continues to mount, the demand for accountability in the case grows louder. The Calcutta High Court’s scrutiny of the arrests during the protest signals a quest for transparency and due process in a case that has captured the attention of the entire nation.
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