The spectre of political violence continues to haunt West Bengal with three persons killed at Makra village under Panrui police station in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Monday.
Villagers claimed that a large number of miscreants entered the village hurling bombs. They fired gunshots, burnt and ransacked houses. While one of deceased had ‘allegiance’ to the BJP, the other person is believed to be supporter of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). The identity of the third person is yet to be confirmed.
The police personnel were allegedly inactive during the almost two-hour-long attack. Prohibitary order under Section 144 has been imposed in the village.
Denying the allegation, the Birbhum Superintendent of Police, Alok Rajoria, told The Hindu : “The police were prompt in taking action and had moved many of the injured from the spot.” However, no arrests have been made.
Video footage of armed miscreants running through fields, and bullet ridden locals were aired by television channels. Women and girls narrated their ordeal of being beaten up. The violence occurred only days after policemen were injured in bomb attacks at Chowmondala village, about 10 km from Makra village. On October 25, two persons were killed in factional clashes in South 24 Parganas district.
“This is BJP’s effort to capture the village,” AITC district chief Anubrata Mondal said. Refuting the allegations, BJP Birbhum president Dudh Kumar Mondal said the AITC was trying to malign his party.
