Cops given free hand for nabbing culprits: Mamata Banerjee on violence

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she was saddened by the deaths that occurred during “sporadic” incidents of violence during the panchayat elections and she has given the state police a “free hand to nab” those involved.

Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’, the chief minister said, “I am saddened by the deaths (during the panchayat elections). They are victims of circumstances. I have given a free hand to the police to take action against all those involved in any case of violence. The state will be giving Rs 2 lakh compensation to the 19 people who lost their lives since the dates of the panchayat elections were announced. Among these, 10-12 were from TMC itself .” “ The kin of the deceased will get jobs as Home Guards,” she added.

Explained | Why have Bengal’s Panchayat polls turned violent?

Attacking the BJP for sending a fact-finding team to the state, she said, “The BJP, time and again, sends central teams to Opposition-ruled States. Then why stop us from sending teams to other states to monitor the violence perpetrated by BJP’s misrule? This is not how the country is supposed to be run.”

Most Read 1 Gadar 2 box office collection day 4: Sunny Deol film records biggest Monday collections of all time, nets a total of Rs 173 cr 2 Bigg Boss OTT 2 Finale Live Updates: Elvish Yadav wins Salman Khan’s show, Abhishek Malhan shares message from hospital 3 Happy Independence Day 2023: Wishes Images, Whatsapp Messages, Status, Quotes, and Photos 4 OMG 2 box office collection day 4: Pankaj Tripathi-Akshay Kumar film delivers better Monday than opening Friday, earns Rs 55.1 cr 5 Jailer box office collection Day 5: Rajinikanth film set to cross Rs 350-crore mark worldwide on Independence Day See MorePolitical Pulse | Bengal violence blame game: So, where were the Central forces?

A four-member BJP fact-finding team, led by the former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, visited violence-hit areas of West Bengal on Wednesday.

Criticising the BJP for “shunning political decency”, Mamata said, “There have been a spate of lies and malicious campaigns levelled against Trinamool. Since the day the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, the central government’s tone and tenor towards Opposition-ruled states changed. Their sole agenda is to keep creating hindrances in the smooth functioning of the state government. The BJP has never engaged in constructive development in our country.” Speaking on the incidents of violence reported in Bhangar on Wednesday, she alleged that Opposition workers had “gheraoed the Block Development Officer (BDO) and senior police officials”. “Despite the deployment of 80,000 central armed forces personnel, how could violence occur in Bhangar? Trinamool had won in the area, yet the Opposition workers gheraoed the BDO and senior police officials. All these people will be brought to the booking. The safety and security of the people is more important to me than winning a seat or two,” said the TMC chief.

Also Read

Narendra Modi Independence Day Speech Live Updates: India now identified ...

Govt SOP for Judges: Do not name officials for court panels

Shivaji statue vandalised in Goa, police initiate inquiry

‘Will return to Red Fort next year’: In Independence Day speech, PM Modi ...Opinion | Express View on Bengal poll violence: Broken ballot

Terming the incidents of violence that marred the panchayat polls as “sporadic”, the CM said, “Elections have been held in over 60,000 booths across the state. Incidents of violence were reported in less than 60 booths. We also have Opposition leaders proudly claiming that they have asked their workers to throw ballot boxes in ponds.”

© The Indian Express (P) Ltd

Great!（6541）