Following the murder of a Trinamool Congress deputy pradhan, violence erupted in Baktui village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Tuesday, killing eight people, including six women and two children (TMC). Following the murder, several houses were set on fire, with seven charred bodies discovered in one house alone. According to the police, one person died of burn injuries at a hospital in Birbhum.
Manoj Malaviya, the Director-General of Police (DGP), said the police were looking into the connection between the murder and the violence. A special investigation team (SIT) was formed to look into the incident, which included ADG CID Gyanwant Singh, IG Burdwan Zone B. L. Meena, and DIG CID (Ops) Meeraj Khalid.
“It’s not a matter of political rivalry.” It could be a case of deep-seated personal animosity between two groups, according to the DGP. On Monday evening, miscreants hurled bombs at deputy pradhan Bhadu Sheikh, injuring him severely. Villagers claim that after his death, miscreants set fire to several huts. The retaliation, according to senior police officers, was swift. Sanju Sheikh’s house was searched and seven bodies were discovered.
Police officers have been suspended by West Bengal Government
After the incident, the Rampurhat SDPO and the officer in charge of the local police station were fired. Mr. Malaviya stated that the situation in the village was under control. Following the murder of the TMC leader, who was from the same village, villagers claim that about ten houses were set on fire.
“A deputy pradhan has been killed,” Minister and senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim said. We need to figure out if the incident had anything to do with the fires in the houses.” He claimed that the Opposition was working on a larger conspiracy to defame West Bengal after visiting a village in the Rampurhat subdivision.
Anubrata Mondal, TMC district president, believes the fire was started by a short circuit. Partha Chatterjee, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, made a statement in the Assembly, calling the incident “unfortunate.” He went on to say, “This massive conspiracy was hatched to tarnish the image of the State government.”
“Horrifying violence and arson orgy in Rampurhat of Birbhum indicates the state is in grip of violence culture and lawlessness,” Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted. “Eight lives have already been lost.” He stated that he had requested an urgent update on the matter from the Chief Secretary.
Demands of the opposition
The opposition slammed the Trinamool Congress, demanding that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the Home portfolio, resign.
In protest of the violence, BJP MLAs walked out of the Assembly. West Bengal BJP MPs have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the “unprecedented post-poll violence and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.”
West Bengal, according to state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, is headed for President’s rule. Mr. Majumdar, who met with Mr. Shah, stated that Mr. Shah assured the delegation that the Home Ministry would request a report from the State government within 72 hours, after which a team would visit the State to assess the law and order situation.
BJP says it will take action against the government
Mr. Dhankhar has virtually interacted with 45 BJP MLAs led by Suvendu Adhikari. Mr. Adhikari said, “We told the Governor that there is no more room for discussion and that it is past time to take action against the State government.” He added that the Governor should invoke Article 356 or 355 of the Constitution and that the National Investigation Agency should investigate the violent incident.
The matter was brought to the attention of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava of the Calcutta High Court, who will hear the case tomorrow.
Md. Salim, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), called the incident a “massacre.” He claimed that efforts were being made to keep the incident hidden. The SIT, he added, was an attempt to “suppress investigation and truth.”