Samik Bhattacharya
Kolkata: The killings of two accused in separate “encounters” in Gaighata and Shamsherganj on Tuesday triggered a political slugfest, with BJP backing the police action as necessary to restore public confidence and deter heinous crimes, while opposition parties raised questions over due process and the rule of law. Under what circumstances they had to open fire are known to the police; the administration has done its job,” he said. “If police are attacked repeatedly, what path is open before them?” he asked. He said police were justified in opening fire if they came under attack. If rule of law is established, everyone will fear and be cautious,” Dilip said. Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh, however, questioned the use of “encounters”, describing such action outside the legal process as potentially sensationalist. He maintained that those accused of rape and murder must face trial and enjoy their legal rights, even as he said such offenders had no right to live. “I don’t want to comment on whether justice could be achieved through legal means or outside the law,” he said.
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya defended the police, saying the circumstances that led to the Gaighata firing were best known to the force. “A policeman also got injured in the firing. Bhattacharya also referred to the attacks on police during Waqf-related protests to question what options the force had when targeted repeatedly. State industries minister Tapas Roy also backed the action in the Gaighata case, describing the rape-murder of a minor as among the most heinous crimes. He argued that tough measures were necessary to restore public’s trust in police and establish the rule of law. “People had forgotten how to trust police; to bring that trust back police have to take some hard, unpleasant measures.