HC nixes plea against NIA probe in school deaths case
Times of India | 7 January 2026
Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday dismissed the Bengal govt's appeal against an NIA probe in the Darivit High School case, where two ex-students were killed in an incident of firing and bombing in North Dinajpur's Islampur in Sept 2018.
The court observed that it was "sufficiently satisfied" with the probe progress.
A division bench of justices Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya and Supratim Bhattacharya said: "Moreover, we cannot lose sight of the fact that serious allegations have been levelled against police authorities, who are under the direct supervision of the state govt. It would not be fair in the interest of justice, even without casting an aspersion on police, to retain it with the same authorities against whom charges have been levelled."
A single bench of the HC ordered the NIA probe after the family of Tapas Barman and Rajesh Sarkar, who were killed in the firing, moved court alleging that police were not taking any action.
NIA's counsel submitted a progress report where it was mentioned that they were waiting for a Forensic Science Laboratory report. The court insisted on a timeline but finally ordered NIA to file the final report as soon as they could. The counsel representing the victims' families pointed out that the bodies could not be cremated as they were waiting for a second autopsy. He also raised the issue of non-payment of compensation.