Political atmosphere in West Bengal heated up on Wednesday after eight people, including children and women, were burnt to death in Bogtui village of West Bengal’s Birbhum district. Leaders of several political parties reached the spot. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also announced to visit Birbhum on Thursday. To welcome him, party workers have put up pylon gates, which is being criticized a lot. BJP even asked whether you are going to mourn or celebrate?
Bengal BJP wrote in one of its tweets, “Women and children have been burnt to death, but instead of investigating, the administration is putting up hoardings to welcome Mamta. Promoting yourself instead of prosecuting the biggest genocide! We want the shameless police minister’s resignation.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said, “The local TMC unit in Birbhum’s Rampurhat is ready to welcome a shameless Mamata Banerjee. She is believed to be visiting to take stock of the horrific massacre in which several women and children were burnt alive by people close to her regime. It’s cruel, inhumane.”
all-round order of action
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been in the news for his tussle with the Mamata government, in a message to the Chief Minister, asked the Chief Minister to act at the earliest and restore the values of democracy and human rights in the state. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has called for an action taken report from the District Superintendent of Police within three days. On the judicial front, the Calcutta High Court, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, has asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case to produce the case diary on Thursday.
22 arrested so far
Police said 22 arrests have been made in connection with the case. Also two FIRs have been registered. The first FIR was on the murder of a Trinamool Congress panchayat functionary which allegedly led to the violence. The second FIR has been registered for setting houses and people on fire.
What did Mamta say?
Speaking for the first time on the Birbhum incident, Chief Minister Banerjee said the incident was “unfortunate” and no culprit would be spared. Responding to opposition parties and the governor’s charge of suppressing facts and minimizing the casualties, the chief minister said the government had already removed the officer-in-charge of the local police station and the sub-division. Action is also being taken against the police officers and officers of the Intelligence Branch posted in the area.
The Chief Minister said, “I have spoken to my officials in Rampurhat more than 50 times since the incident. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted. Director General of Police (Manoj Malviya) is camping in the area. I myself will go to the village on Thursday.” Mamta said, “I wanted to go to the spot only on Wednesday but many people have gone there to show their faces. I won’t leave as long as they are there.”