'Big Conspiracy To Defame Bengal,' Says Mamata; BJP Delegation Visits Birbhum

Banerjee also stated that action would be taken against the perpetrators of violence without any political bias.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, 23 March, said that the state government was concerned about the violent incident reported in Birbhum, and that she would be personally visiting Rampurhat village, where eight people had died.

On Wednesday, a Bharatiya Janata Party delegation, led by LoP Suvendu Adhikari, visited Rampurhat, news agency ANI reported. Adhikari, however, claimed that the BJP delegation was stopped from visiting the site of violence, as per PTI.

"Very unfortunate incident, no words are sufficient to condemn it. The Calcutta HC has given directions to Central Forensics. We demand an NIA or CBI probe. SIT is a wing of state government and the CM is trying to save the government. President's Rule is the only way to save our Bengal," Adhikari said.

Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, said, "The incident is condemnable. No one will be spared and this incident is a big conspiracy as some people are trying to defame West Bengal." She also stated that the criminal proceedings would be conducted without any political bias.

"The government is ours, we are concerned about the people in our state. We would never want anyone to suffer. The Birbhum, Rampurhat incident is unfortunate. I have immediately dismissed the OC, SDPO. I will go to Rampurhat tomorrow," Banerjee was quoted as saying by ANI.

The chief minister said that such incidents were more common in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

"Such kinds of incidents have happened in Gujarat and Rajasthan too. I am not justifying the incident in Rampurhat. We will take action in a fair manner."

Mamata Banerjee

Taking a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh administration, Banerjee noted that she had sent a delegation of the Trinamool Congress to Hathras when a Dalit girl had been raped in the district, but that the TMC leaders had not been allowed entry. She said that she would not stop anyone from visiting West Bengal.

What Had Happened?

Charred bodies of eight people were recovered from Rampurhat in Birbhum district on Tuesday after nearly 10-12 houses were set ablaze.

The houses were burnt on Monday night, amid protests over the alleged murder of a leader from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) named Bhadu Sheikh.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the matter and eleven people had been arrested in the case so far. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had also sought a report from the state administration over the incident of violence.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Wednesday, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "adopting diversionary tactics" and shielding those guilty in the incident of violence recorded in the Birbhum district of the state.

"This is a ruse to shield the guilty of the ghastly crime. Already enough is in circulation about perpetrators of this savagery. Further, your assurance that 'investigation will make all-out efforts to unearth all those who are behind the occurrence of the incident' is a far cry from reality," he said in a letter.

BJP MP Arjun Singh has called for the chief minister to step down from her post, as per ANI. He said, "There is an atmosphere of terror here, villages are deserted. Shameful that this govt let several innocent people die. Policemen kept standing and did nothing. Mamata Banerjee should resign immediately and this case should be handed over to CBI or NIA."

Locals Blame Long-Standing Rivalry, 2 FIRs Registered

While the motive behind the murder of the TMC panchayat leader is still unclear, villagers point to the rivalry between two ruling party factions that runs deep in Birbhum's Bogtui, adding that many did not like his rise to power and influence.

They also claimed that some villagers had stopped the firefighters from dousing the flames.

The police said two First Information Reports (FIRs) had been filed – one over the deputy pradhan's killing and the other over the attack on the houses.

Sources said that Sections 302 and 120B (murder and criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others, were slapped on the arrested persons. In the case related to the recovery of the eight charred bodies, Sections related to murder and arson were filed.

The case has also been filed under Sections 325 and 326 (voluntary causing grievous hurt with weapons), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 302 (murder), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), and 149 (unlawful assembly).

Some of the deceased have been identified as Jahanara Bibi Doli (38), Lili Khatun (18), Sheli Bibi (32) Nurnehar Bibi (52), Rupali Bibi (39), Kazi Sajidur Rahaman (22), and Mina Bibi (40). Their bodies were found in the one-storey house of Sona Sheikh.

Kazi Sajidur and Lili Khatun were newlyweds.