Bengal post-poll violence: PM dials guv, expresses concern over law & order

Mamata holds meeting amid reports of six deaths since announcement of result

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him and expressed anguish over the law and order situation in the state following reports of post-poll violence from several districts.
 
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held a meeting with the top administrative and police officers of the state on the post poll violence in the state, an official said.
 
In the meeting, which was held at Banerjees Kalighat residence. she took stock of the situation, he told PTI.
 
The state has witnessed a number of incidents of violence since Sunday when the results of the assembly election was declared and rivals TMC and BJP have traded charges for it.
 
At least six people were killed in post poll violence in different parts of the state including one in the city, police said.
 
The BJP has alleged that TMC-backed goons have killed a number of its workers, attacked its woman members, vandalised houses, looted shops of the party members and ransacked party offices. TMC has denied the charges. The incidents prompted the Centre to seek a factual report from the government on inci­d­ents of attack on opposition workers.
 
“PM called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at alarmingly worrisome law & order situation @MamataOfficial. I share grave concerns @PMOIndia given that violence vandalism, arson, loot, and killings continue unabated," Dhankhar wrote on Twitter.
 
“Police @WBPolice @CPKolkata must end senseless political violence, vandalism, arson, killings and intimidation that shames democracy. Why post poll violence only WB? Why this assault on democracy?” the governor asked on the microblogging site.
 
“Reports indicate horrendous state of affairs. Horrified people are fleeing to save themselves," he said.
 
BJP, Cong, CPI-M target Banerjee
 
BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday said the widespread post-poll violence in West Bengal was reminiscent of the atrocities people had to face during the country's Partition, and exhorted party workers in the state to democratically fight the “savagery”.
 
Nadda, who arrived on a two-day visit to Bengal, said BJP workers across India have expressed solidarity with their activists in the state, who are “facing violent attacks”.
 
Nadda said he would visit the residences of BJP workers “killed” in attacks in South 24 Parganas district and speak to their kin.
 
The Congress condemned the violence, saying such incidents were unacceptable and people of the state have not voted for lawlessness. Congress’ West Bengal in-charge Jitin Prasada alleged on Tuesday that his party cadres were attacked by Trinamool Congress workers and women and children were not spared.
 
The Left has claimed that its workers have been targeted. “Are these reports of gruesome violence in Bengal TMC’s “victory celebrations”? Condemnable. “Will be resisted & rebuffed. Instead of focusing on combating the pandemic TMC unleashes such mayhem,” CPI(M) leader had Sitaram Yechury tweeted.