Home Ministry Questions West Bengal's Law & Order, Mamata Rebuffs

Kolkata, June 10, 2019:

Home Ministry has questioned West Bengal’s deteriorating law and order situation after violent clashes between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists that claimed the life of at least four persons in Basirhat.

However, the Mamata Banerjee-led state government rubbished the charges as a “political controversy.”

The Home Ministry in its advisory asked the Mamata-led government to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquillity.

“The unabated violence over the past weeks appears to be a failure on the part of the law enforcement machinery of the state to maintain the rule of law and inspire confidence among people,” the Home Ministry advisory stated.

In response to the Centre's advisory, the West Bengal government termed these incidents as “stray post-poll clashes” and the situation is ‘under control’.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De wrote to the Centre that appropriate actions were initiated in all cases of violence without any delay.

However, BJP leaders have claimed that the numbers of missing or killed party workers during the clash might be more.

The BJP has also declared a 12-hour bandh in Basirhat to demand strict punishment for those who murdered their party workers.

A day after the Lok Sabha election results were declared, violence erupted in different parts of West Bengal including the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat, which saw a close contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Clashes were reported in different areas of Barrackpore, including Kankinara, where a number of shops were set on fire. A Trinamool party office was attacked at Naihati and several motorcycles were set afire