In the latest Birbhum violence update, Calcutta High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the matter. Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj have agreed to hear the matter at 2 pm today.
Disturbing visuals are coming from Bengal’s Birbhum district. Police have recovered charred bodies of 8 people which include women, and children after several houses were set on fire by miscreants. The incident is alleged to be related to the murder of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh.
A 7 member CID team has reached Birbhum to investigate the matter. 23 people have been arrested so far.
Centre government on Tuesday sought a status report from the West Bengal government. MHA has asked the state govt to submit the report within 72 hours.
Central BJP formed a 5 -member fact-finding committee to visit in Birbhum after a horrific incident of deaths of eight people in fire.The BJP has asked the committee to submit a detailed report.@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/iGwYTEweQP
— Rajesh Kumar Thakur (@hajipurrajesh) March 22, 2022
Police recovered 7 charred dead bodies from one house alone and one person succumbed to injuries in a hospital in Birbhum. The deceased include 2 children.
Horrible crime committed in West Bengal, after the murder of a TMC leader at Rampurhat in Birbhum, 10 houses were set on fire and about 12-13 people including women and children were burnt alive to death. pic.twitter.com/mBYSnlRWH6
— Mumbai Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalMB) March 23, 2022
SEE how the #TMCjungleRaj in revenge set the fire in a house in #Birbhum They burnt the live person.
Where is the #MamataBanerjee who made the #Bengal a mini #Pakistan.
She is not the #CheifMinister ! She is the bloody killer ?? or massacrer #BirbhumMassacre #BirbhumViolence pic.twitter.com/sYLiBD5TmY
— Nipul Kumar 💯% Follow Back (@nipulsangneha) March 23, 2022
The incident took place on Monday evening. Over 10-12 houses were set on fire by some miscreants.
The violence erupted after murder of the panchayat head of Barshal village Bhadu Sheikh. He was reportedly killed in a bomb attack last evening.
Miscreants hurled bombs on several houses, including two accused of Sheikh’s murder, on Monday evening.
The police has registered two FIRs, one in connection to the Sheikh’s murder and the other one pertaining to an attack on the houses.
The West Bengal government has constituted a Special Investigation Team. Also, the inspector-in-charge and sub-divisional police officer of the Rampurhat block has been suspended.
Governor Jagdeep Dhankar condemned the incident and called it “horrifying violence and arson orgy”. He has also sought an urgent update from the State Chief Secretary.
“Horrifying violence and arson orgy #Rampurhat #Birbhum indicates state is in grip of violence culture and lawlessness. Already eight lives lost. Have sought urgent update on the incident from Chief Secretary. My thoughts are with the families of the bereaved,” he tweeted.
Horrifying violence and arson orgy #Rampurhat #Birbhum indicates state is in grip of violence culture and lawlessness. Already eight lives lost.
Have sought urgent update on the incident from Chief Secretary.
My thoughts are with the families of the bereaved. pic.twitter.com/vtI6tRJcBX
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) March 22, 2022
“I have emphasised on several occasions that we cannot allow the state to be synonymous with violence culture and lawlessness,” Dhankar said in the video message.
However, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rebuked Jagdeep Dhankar and wrote, “It pains me that you have chosen an unfortunate incident which occurred in Rampurhat on 21.03.2022 that resulted in loss of precious lives, to pass sweeping and uncalled for comments on the law-and-order situation in the state. The state government is saddened at the loss of lives and has taken immediate steps not only to take action against the local police officers posted in the sub-division but has also formed an SIT to investigate the cause of the incident. 10 persons have so far been arrested.”
The violence has triggered word war between the political parties. BJP has constituted a five-member team to probe the matter and is demanding the imposition of President Rule in West Bengal.
