Calcutta HC Orders NIA Probe Into Death of 2 Students In 2018 Alleged Police Firing

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the deaths of two students who died in a September 2018 altercation between students and police in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur area.

In April 2022, the court expressed its displeasure with the CID probe into the Darivit school shooting. The NIA probe was ordered, according to the court, because it was claimed that homemade bombs were utilised.

The incident happened when police officers and students from Islampur’s Darivit High School clashed. Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman were identified as the two deceased students. Sarkar died on the spot while, Barman was taken to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds.

The two students allegedly died after being shot by the police, according to the families of the deceased. The police, however, refuted the accusation. The families of the victims went before the court and demanded a CBI probe.

Students at the Islampur school were protesting the hiring of two Urdu instructors when the purported clash broke out.