By Venkatesh Raghavan
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief, Mamta Banerjee went into damage control mode on Thursday after eight persons. West Bengal Arson: Mamta on damage control mode.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief, Mamta Banerjee went into damage control mode on Thursday after eight persons including women and children were burnt to death in Bugtoi village located in the state’s Birbhum district following the murder of a village level Party functionary, Bhadu Sheikh. Eye witness accounts narrated that firefighters who had arrived at the spot were prevented from dousing the flames emanating from the burning houses.
The incidence of arson soon sparked furor and outcries from the locals besides causing many villagers to flee from their homes for fear of further retaliatory attacks that might cost them their lives. It was reported that Bhadu Sheikh was declared dead on admission to the hospital after an attack by unknown assailants. The news about his death spread quickly and kindled the retaliatory bout of arson.
Bhadu being the deputy Panchayat chief of the village prompted the stir of political violence in which his rival Sona Sheikh, his family members and others were charred to death after being locked inside their home that was set ablaze. Besides, three people who were present at the site where Bhadu was assaulted fatally sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment in the local hospital.
The Chief Minister ordered prompt arrest of Anarul Sheikh the local TMC block president and admonished the police for failing to respond in a timely manner to prevent the incidence of arson. Spelling out that it was a lapse on the part of the District Intelligence Bureau (DIB) and Inspector in Charge (IC), she called for strict action against the officials for their negligence. Banerjee assured that “speedy justice” would be rendered to the aggrieved families. The affected families included a cluster of 10 houses located in the village.
The Chief Minister’s move came close on heels of the Calcutta High Court asking for a status report on the arson incident from the state government within a span of 24 hours on Wednesday. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) too has sought a prompt response from the state police chief, after issuing notice to the TMC government. The arson incident is also likely to have wide political ramifications both within the state and in New Delhi. West Bengal’s BJP Chief, Sukanta Majumdar has already demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
Terming it as one of the most horrific incidents in the history of West Bengal for over two decades, Sukanta compared the arson deaths to the barbarism that existed in the middle ages. As focus is zeroing in on the village owing to a brewing political storm, there seems to be no let up for the villagers who seek to flee their homes for fear of losing their lives.
great put up, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists in this sector don’t understand this. You must continue your writing. I am sure, you have a huge reader base already!