A gang entered the judges’ residence in Diamond Harbour with firearms to terrorize the judges. The judges have sought the intervention of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
Judges are feeling unsafe. It is suspected that the intrusion was after some people were unhappy with a verdict in a certain case. It is believed that the case was regarding a ruling in a child sexual abuse case that did not favour certain individuals. Three judges have filed complaints, accusing a police officer of aiding the miscreants.
These judges, who sit in the Diamond Harbour Sub-Division Court, have signed the complaint. The Additional District Judge and Additional District Judge No. 4 of Diamond Harbour have also signed it. According to their complaint, on the night of the 8 September, miscreants stormed into their residence. The judges said when they rang the police station, they got no response. The letter has already been forwarded to the registrar of the Calcutta High Court after being sent to the District Judge of South 24-Parganas.
In the letter, the judges expressed concerns that the miscreants were armed with weapons. They noted that they had observed these individuals loitering outside the campus, attempting to forcibly enter the residential area, though security personnel prevented them. The judges further mentioned that they and their families are living in fear due to this incident. They specifically named the police officer, who allegedly supported the criminals. The judges suspect that this act of intimidation was carried out because they did not deliver favorable verdicts in several cases under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.
Following the judges’ letter to the district judge, the Diamond Harbour police have taken action. An investigation into the entire incident has been ordered, and the accused police officer has been issued a show-cause notice. Security at the judges’ residence has been increased and CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify the miscreants, according to the Diamond Harbour police.
In response to the incident, retired Supreme Court Justice Ashok Ganguly remarked, “The Calcutta High Court should take strong action in this matter, as it is an interference with the independence of the judiciary. This indicates that there is no rule of law in the state, which is very unfortunate.”
Central minister Sukanta Majumdar wrote in X-handle: “If the police, meant to protect, are now attacking the judiciary, it’s a clear sign that administration has failed completely. Has the failed CM lost control over her own police force? The judiciary will not be intimidated. This is the beginning of the end for her misrule!”