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Families Demand Justice Eight Years After Daribhit School Shootings
In 2018, students at Daribhit High School protested about which teachers should be appointed.
They wanted a Bengali teacher instead of the approved Urdu and Sanskrit teachers.
During the protest, two former students, Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman, were killed by firing.
Another young man, Biplab Sarkar, was injured.
Their families say that almost eight years have passed without justice.
They also say the BJP supported them earlier but has not done enough since coming to power.
The ABVP continues to support the families and held a rally.
A court gave the investigation to the National Investigation Agency in 2023.
A state minister said the investigation is still underway and the families will receive justice.
Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman were killed during a 2018 protest at Daribhit High School.
Students had protested the appointment of Urdu and Sanskrit teachers instead of a Bengali teacher.
Tapas’s family accused the BJP of reducing its support after coming to power.
The Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the National Investigation Agency in 2023.
The ABVP held a rally demanding justice, while a state minister said the probe was continuing.
- Who
- The families of Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman, the ABVP, BJP representatives, the state minister, and investigators from the National Investigation Agency.
- What
- Families renewed demands for justice over the deaths of two youths during the 2018 Daribhit High School protest.
- Where
- Daribhit High School in North Dinajpur, near Islampur, and related investigation offices in West Bengal.
- When
- The protest and deaths occurred on September 20, 2018; the latest demands and rally took place on Sunday, nearly eight years later.
- Why
- Students had protested teacher appointments, while the families seek accountability for the firing and punishment for those allegedly responsible.
Families’ Criticism
Government and Supporters’ Position
Progress of the case
Families’ Criticism
The families say nearly eight years have passed without punishment for the actual culprits and that the case has not received enough attention after the BJP came to power.
Government and Supporters’ Position
The state minister said the probe is in progress and the victims’ families will receive justice.
Political support
Families’ Criticism
Tapas Barman’s mother says the BJP supported the families during their earlier agitation but its support weakened after it came to power.
Government and Supporters’ Position
The BJP’s district representative said the party had supported the family in the past and would continue to do so.
Investigation demands
Families’ Criticism
The families had demanded a CBI investigation and punishment for police officers allegedly involved in the firing.
Government and Supporters’ Position
The Calcutta High Court assigned the investigation to the National Investigation Agency, which has visited the school and questioned witnesses and officials.
Key facts
- Incident date
- September 20, 2018
- Location
- Daribhit High School, North Dinajpur
- People killed
- Former students Rajesh Sarkar, 19, and Tapas Barman, 22
- Person injured
- Biplab Sarkar
- Court action
- On May 10, 2023, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the National Investigation Agency.
- Latest development
- The ABVP organised a rally in Daribhit demanding justice.
- Additional demand
- Tapas Barman’s mother demanded that September 20 be recognised as Bangla Bhasha Dibas.
Quotes
Koushik Choudhury
West Bengal minister for fire and emergency services and education.
“I had hoped the judicial process would accelerate after the change of government. However, even after the BJP came to power, the issue of Daribhit has not received significant attention. The new chief minister has not mentioned Daribhit even once.”
telegraphindia.com
“We are optimistic that justice will be served. We have also appealed to the chief minister to declare September 20 as Bangla Bhasha Dibas.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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