Bengal Violence: Charred bodies were found a day later, mostly belonging to one family.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Bogtui village in Birbhum, where houses were set on fire shortly after a village panchayat deputy chief was murdered. She asserted that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators of violence.
"I never believed something so barbaric can happen in modern Bengal. Mothers and children were killed," Mamata Banerjee said, surrounded by relatives of those killed, and other villagers at Bogtui.
"In this incident your family members have died but my heart has been crushed..."
Eight people, including six women and two children, were locked in their homes and burnt alive by a mob on Tuesday in what was believed to be retaliation after a local Trinamool Congress leader was killed in a crude bomb attack. Charred bodies were found a day later, mostly belonging to one family.
Describing the incident as "unfortunate", the Trinamool Congress chief said, "It was an attempt by the BJP, Left and the Congress to malign our government… Strict action will be taken against all those responsible for the Birbhum incident, irrespective of their (political) colour.
Here are the Highlights on the Birbhum violence case:
"Why Silent On UP Incidents?": Trinamool Over PM's Bengal Killings RemarkThe Trinamool Congress leadership on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Birbhum killings, stating that it negated the BJP's demand for imposition of President's Rule in West Bengal.
Trinamool state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh , however, wondered why the PM "chose to maintain silence on similar incidents" in Uttar Pradesh "What happened in Birbhum is condemnable. No one can support such violence. The PM, too, has condemned it. But we wonder why he maintains silence when carnages and mass murders take place in the BJP-ruled states. Has he ever condemned such incidents in Hathras and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh? The answer is no," The Trinamool leader said at a press meet in Kolkata.
Birbhum killings: BJP central team visits district, assures help to family of victimsA fact-finding committee of the BJP on Thursday visited Bogtui village in Bengal's Birbhum district, where eight people were burnt alive earlier this week, and spoke to the locals as well as the relatives of the victims there.
The team, comprising former Uttar Pradesh DGP Brij Lal, Mumbai ex-police commissioner Satya Pal Singh and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, assured all help to the families of those killed in the violence that broke out after a TMC panchayat official's murder..
"We have come here to witness the situation in the aftermath of the mass murder. This (TMC) government has lost its moral right to govern. What happened in Bogtui is a shame for humanity," Majumdar told reporters after visiting the village.
BJP MLAs stage walkout in Bengal Assembly as speaker refuses discussion on Birbhum killings -Opposition BJP MLAs staged a walkout in the Assembly on Thursday after the speaker refused to grant time for a discussion on the recent Birbhum killings.
As soon as the members assembled, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, along with other saffron party MLAs, rushed to the well of the House, demanding a discussion on the violence in Birbhum that claimed eight left eight dead, including two children.
The saffron party legislators held placards that had 'Manush mara sarkar, aar nei dorkar' (we do not want this government which kills people) written on them.
Mamata Banerjee Orders Police To Arrest Trinamool Man In Bengal Killings
Alleging a bigger conspiracy, Mamata Banerjee called for "stringent action" and said the police would investigate the killings "from all angles". The Chief Minister said suspects would be hunted down and arrested if they didn't surrender.
Birbhum killings: Trinamool delegation seeks Bengal governor's ousterTrinamool Congress delegation met Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday and sought the ouster of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar as a political fight over the horrifying killing of eight persons in the state's Birbhum district continued to echo inside and outside Parliament.
In Lok Sabha, BJP MP Saumitra Khan rushed to the Well from his seat in the last rows, shouting angry comments against the state's TMC government and sat in the aisle briefly, alleging that Bengal has become a "land of terror".
Congress member Gaurav Gogoi also slammed the state government for not allowing the party's leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to visit the site of the violence and stopping him nearly 90 km away from the spot, saying it is a blow to democracy.
"Something Big" Behind Bengal Killings: Mamata Banerjee Amid Political RowMamata Banerjee arrived this afternoon at a village in Bengal's Birbhum where eight people were burnt alive by a mob on Tuesday, an incident that has triggered a massive political backlash. The Chief Minister, accused by the opposition BJP of allowing political violence and lawlessness, alleged that "something big" was behind the killings.
"I never believed something so barbaric can happen in modern Bengal. Mothers and children were killed. Your family members died but my heart has been crushed...," Mamata Banerjee said, surrounded by the family members and relatives of those killed, besides villagers.
Trinamool delegation meets Amit Shah, demands removal of West Bengal GovernorTrinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Parliament and urged him to remove the West Bengal Governor in view of the Birbhum incident.
"We have said that Governor of West Bengal should be removed, in view of the Rampurhat, Birbhum incident. His work is against our constitutional system. The parliamentary democratic system is under threat," said Mr Bandyopadhyay, after meeting Amit Shah.
"We have given a copy of the letter by the Chief Minister for changing of Governor, to the Home Minister. Our CM is handling the situation finely. 21 persons have been arrested so far, 15 police officials have been asked to go on leave. No guilty person will be spared," said Mr Bandyopadhyay.
When asked, what the Home Minister said, the Trinamool MP said, "He very categorically said that we are not looking for any political angle in this matter. I also believe that there is no political angle in the incident."
Birbhum violence: Youth Congress moves Human Rights Commission, demands independent investigationA complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by the Legal Cell of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) against violation of human rights of the residents of Baktui village of Birbhum, West Bengal.
Complainant Amrish Ranjan Pandey, National Secretary, (IYC) and Ambuj Dixit, National Co-Coordinator, Legal Cell, (IYC) filed a complaint against the West Bengal government demanding an independent investigation in the killings of people in Baktui village, Birbhum, West Bengal.
The complaint states, "Media reports show that Trinamool Congress (TMC) has unleashed a wave of violence against political opponents in the area, resulting in arson and killing being widespread in the area. A mass exodus of people is also happening from the village on account of fear of being killed by TMC goons."
Mamata Banerjee at Rampurhat:
This is a heartbreaking tragedy. I couldn't believe such appalling violence is possible. 10 houses have been burnt, women and children have been killed.
We have to see if there have lapses by the police, could precautionary arrests have prevented these horrific murders. I want strict punishment for those who haven't carried out their duties.
Birbhum killings: Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury prevented from entering Bogtui villageSenior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was on Thursday prevented from entering West Bengal's Bogtui village, where eight people including three women and two children were burnt alive earlier this week.
The Congress leader in Lok Sabha and other party members were stopped at Sriniketan More near the village in Birbhum district, and they sat on the road and staged a demonstration demanding that they be allowed to visit the village and meet the kin of the deceased.
"We cannot allow him (Chowdhury) to visit Bogtui as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to arrive at the village shortly. We cannot take any chance with the law and order situation, which is presently under control. We fear that his visit may disturb the peace," a senior district police officer said.
Mamata Banerjee arrives in Bengal's Birbhum
Mamata Banerjee to arrive in Bengal's Birbhum soonMamata Banerjee wil arrive in Rampuhat in Bengal's Birbhum shortly.
She plans to meet the family of the murdered Trinamool deputy. Other families whose homes were set of fire are yet to return to the village.
Just In | Calcutta High Court will hear the matter at 2.00 pm today, where the Bengal state government will file a preliminary report.
Mamata Banerjee to arrive at Baktui village at 12.15 PM todayBengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will arrive at Bogtui village at around 12.15 pm.
She has left Kolkata for Rampurhat, where her chopper is scheduled to land. From Rampurhat, she will drive about 2 km to reach the village where eight were violently killed.
Birbhum killings heinous, says PM Modi; Mamata Banerjee to visit site of tragedy todayThe day after 8 people were burnt to death in a village in Bengal's Birbhum district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, described the killings as "heinous" and said the culprits should not be forgiven.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday too vowed that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators regardless of their party "colour" and announced plans to visit the village of Bogtui, where some ten houses were set ablaze by throwing petrol bombs in the early hours of Tuesday in a suspected revenge attack after the slaying of a local Trinamool leader.
The blaze killed eight people including three women and two children. Investigations by the special investigation team set up by the state government are on and some 20 people who have been arrested.