Mamata Banerjee to visit Bengal’s Birbhum, where eight were burned alive

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will today visit the violence-affected area of Rampurhat in Birbhum district, where nine people, including a local leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress died this week.

The Bengal government is also installing CCTV cameras in the area, news agency ANI reported, in line with a Calcutta High Court order on March 23.

Eight people were burnt to death in Rampurhat early Tuesday morning after several houses were set on fire. This was after the killing of Bhadu Sheikh, a resident of Bogtui village and a local Trinamool leader. Residents said the violence was likely the result of an old rivalry between two factions of the Trinamool Congress.

Police have arrested 23 people so far; one of those arrested was held in connection with the bomb attack that killed Sheikh, while the rest have been held over the fires and deaths. Two cases have been filed and a special team is leading investigations, police said.

Prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted condolences to those killed and assured the state of support from the centre. However, in the relentless war of words between the BJP and the Trinamool, the prime minister’s tweet had a sting; he said he expected ‘strict action against culprits… (and) those who encourage such criminals should not be forgiven too’.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to depart from Kolkata at around noon and fly via chopper to the violence-affected area.

The violence and the deaths have sparked a political blame-game in the state, with the opposition BJP demanding the chief minister resign and President’s Rule be imposed. Banerjee hit back yesterday at a governemnt event in the capital, saying: “We are running the government. Why would we want murder, bloodshed and a bomb blast? Such things are done by those not in power to harass the government and malign us.”

She also hinted at an opposition party’s hand behind the gruesome events.

“I will go there tomorrow (March 24). I planned to go there today (March 23). I was ready. But some political parties are going there and having sweets. I don’t want to go there when they (opposition parties) are there. I don’t want to quarrel with them unnecessarily,” she said.

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by leader of opposition (and one-time confidante of Mamata Banerjee before he crossed the aisle) Suvendu Adhikari visited the area yesterday. He has called for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or National Investigation Agency.

The Congress’ state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writing to President Ram Nath Kovind to impose President’s Rule. The BJP’s state unit has made a similar demand.

The chief minister has also fought off critical comments from governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who described the deaths as an ‘arson orgy’ and slammed the state over law-and-order.

On Tuesday the home ministry sought a detailed report from the Bengal government. The National Commission for Women (NCW) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have also taken cognisance of the incident.