Author:
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: December 27, 2000
A major political controversy
has erupted in West Bengal over the Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's
instructions to the police to shoot down armed criminals, as the major
opposition Trinamool Congress threatened to move Amnesty International
and human rights bodies.
In defence of his instructions to
the police to shoot armed criminals, the Chief Minister today said there
were definite provisions in this regard in the Police Act and IPC, and
denied having violated human rights norms.
"Police Act 23 and IPC 76 clearly
envisage that the police should shoot an armed criminal when he is out
to kill an innocent person and there is no contradiction with human rights'
issue," the Chief Minister said reacting to criticisms of the Opposition
leaders, including Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who accused
him of violating human rights norms.
The Chief Minister had yesterday
said during laying the foundation of East Jadavpur police station that
armed persons on roads did not enjoy human rights and police should shoot
them down ... "Human rights are for human beings".
Bhattacharjee's statement came in
the wake of a spurt in criminal activities and dacoities in some areas
in South Calcutta, particularly in his assembly constituency of Jadavpore.
The Chief Minister said only in
case of excesses on innocent people by the police would attract attention
of human rights bodies. "There is no contradiction between the two. It
is a crime not to shoot a criminal when he attacks an innocent person.
"When this kind of situation develops,
when an organised gang is out to kill someone, it must be confronted by
the police to save lives," Bhattacharjee, also in charge of Home (Police)
department, added.
His yesterday's statement was condemned
by Congress, BJP and particularly Trinamool Congress which even threatened
to move the Amnesty international, National and state Human Rights Commissions.
The Trinamool Congress chief said
today that the Chief Minister's instructions to the police was violative
of all basic human rights and constitutional norms. "We will take up the
issue with the Union Home Ministry."
Party's policy-making body chairman
Pankaj Banerjee condemned the Chief Minister's statement, accusing him
of "encouraging growth of Fascism".
