CBI constitutes 4 special teams to probe post-poll violence in West Bengal

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) constituted four special teams on Thursday to probe the alleged post-poll violence cases in West Bengal, as per sources.

Earlier in the day, the Calcutta High Court had ordered a probe by the CBI in all the alleged rape, murder and rioting cases that had taken place in West Bengal after the state assembly elections.

A CBI source told IANS, "Four special investigation units have been constituted to probe the Bengal post-poll violence cases."

The source said that there will be six members in each team and each unit will be headed by a joint director level officer.

The source also said that the investigating officer will soon visit the state to initiate the probe.

In a major blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, a five-member bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday handed over the investigation of serious crimes like rape and murder in the post-poll violence to the CBI, besides forming a three-member team to investigate the lesser criminal offences.

The court also directed the state government to immediately process the compensation for the victims of post-poll violence.

Accepting the National Human Rights Commission's recommendation, the high court directed that the investigation into the violence following the April-May elections in Bengal will be conducted by a special team to be set up by the CBI.

The CBI will probe the serious crimes such as rape and murder that happened during the period. A separate division bench has been formed to monitor the CBI investigation.

Similarly, the division bench also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the lesser crimes that occurred after the elections.