Attack on CLP leader fuels Bengal violence; bandh today

Violence erupted across West Bengal on Thursday as a spillover of the attack on a Congress Legislature Party team.

Violence erupted across West Bengal on Thursday as a spillover of the attack on a Congress Legislature Party team which was visiting trouble-torn villages in Burdwans Mongolkot,allegedly by CPM supporters,on Wednesday. As news of the incident spread,Congress workers blocked roads,railway tracks and set state buses on fire before calling a Bengal bandh on Friday.

In New Delhi,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said he had been briefed about the situation in the affected areas. We have sent a message to the state government and asked them to send a report. Let the report come, he said,adding that the Home Secretary had spoken to the state Chief Secretary.

Clearly on the backfoot,the CPM and the state government took a soft stand,with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee assuring that the culprits will be punished. The Trinamool Congress,on the other hand,extended its moral support for the bandh.

There was pandemonium in the Assembly with the Opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress staging a walkout. Congress demanded the Chief Ministers resignation,while the Trinamool Congress demanded Central intervention into the deteriorating law and order situation in Bengal. The Congress also demanded removal of the SP and District Magistrate of Burdwan.

Manas Bhuniya,the CLP leader who led the MLA delegation on Wednesday,said: The state government has failed to maintain law and order in Bengal. The attack on the MLAs proved that the CM is not capable of good governance. If the DM and SP of the district are not removed,the CM has no moral right to continue.

The Chief Minister,meanwhile,tried his best to calm tempers and spoke to Bhuniya and MLA Krishnendu Choudhury for half-an-hour in his chamber. I have spoken to Manas babu. I assure you that those responsible for the incident will be arrested. Already eight persons have been arrested. I will send relief to the people of Mongolkot. Not a single person there will have to stay away from their homes, the CM told the Assembly later. The CM also called up Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and briefed him about the situation in the state.

Meanwhile,state Industries Minister Nirupam Sen,who the Congress leaders alleged had masterminded the attack,also met Bhuniya. I had a talk with Nirupam Sen yesterday. Your allegations are incorrect. We are looking into the matter. If it is found that anyone from the party is involved then he will be punished, the CM said in the House defending his minister.

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In a bid to avoid further confrontation with Congress workers,the CPM has asked its cadres to restrain themselves during the bandh on Friday. We will not oppose the bandh actively. The situation might turn violent if our workers hit the streets, CPM state unit secretary Biman Bose said.