BJP, Left seek governor's intervention to stop Bengal violence

The Left Front and the BJP Friday knocked on the doors of West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi calling for his intervention into the political violence in Birbhum district that has left three dead earlier this week.

Around 20 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes which have triggered protests by opposition parties.

Bharatiya Janata Party activists blockaded the vital Howrah bridge - the gateway to Kolkata - for half an hour against police preventing its leaders from entering some of the troubled spots. The party workers also staged angry demonstrations at Raiganj and Malda in the northern part of the state.

A BJP delegation comprising its senior state leaders urged Tripathi to send a report to the central government about the violence unleashed on its workers in the state and ask Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - who also holds the home portfolio - to put a stop to the violence.

The delegation submitted a memorandum on the "criminal activities" being indulged in by the ruling Trinamool Congress.

"Human rights is totally neglected in the statea we request you to ask the state home minister to stop the violent actions against BJP workers throughout the State and also request you to send a report to the union (home) ministry," the party said, a day after its team led by national vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was prevented from entering violence-torn Makhra and Chaumondolpur villages in Birbhum district. The leaders were taken into preventive custody by the police.

The administration had clamped prohibitory orders after three people died in a Trinamool-BJP clash. The Trinamool has justified the police action and accused the BJP of creating unrest.

A separate delegation of the Left Front legislature party appealed to Tripathi to initiate appropriate measures for stemming in the "deteriorating" law and order and restoration of peace.

Placing a seven-point charter of demands, Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra sought all party meetings to prevent any more breach of peace and establishment of democratic rights in the state, adequate compensation for the deceased and the injured in Birbhum district and measures to ensure those driven from their homes could return to their villages.

Mishra demanded seizure of illegal arms and arrest of all trouble-mongers irrespective of their party affiliation in trouble spots like Chaumondolpur, Makhra, South 24 Parganas district Bhangar as also Burdwan district's Khagragarh.