New Delhi:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case and formally started investigations into the Netai killings in West Bengal.
Nine villagers had been killed on January 7 in Netai village in Lalgarh; some of the accused include CPM leaders.
The Calcutta High Court had ordered CBI investigation into the incident.
The High Court order came after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the Calcutta Bar Association in January demanding a CBI probe into the incident
The court, during the hearing, had rapped the Central Investigation Department (CID) for its probe and wanted to know why the agency was not interrogating CPI(M)'s Lalgarh local committee members.
The West Bengal Home Secretary had, however, filed an affidavit saying no CBI inquiry was needed as the CID was already investigating the case.
The state government had said that they would move the Supreme Court against any move by the CBI to investigate.