Kolkata: After eight people were burnt to death following the killing of Trinamool Congress leader Bahadur Shaikh in Birbhum’s Rampurhat, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar condemned the violence strongly saying human rights have been “decimated” and rule of law has “capsized”
Dhankhar offered condolence to the families of the deceased, and said that the state is in a “grip of violence culture and lawlessness”. He said he was pained and disturbed at the “horrifying barbarity” at Rampurhat in Birbhum.
It may be recalled that eight people were charred to death after a mob allegedly set houses on fire following the murder of Trinamool Congress leader Bahadur Shaikh. The enraged mob set about 10-12 houses on fire on Monday night and cops recovered the charred bodies on Tuesday morning.
Dhankhar called the incident “horrifying violence and arson orgy” in a video message on his official Twitter account and said he has asked for an urgent update on the incident from the Chief Secretary of the state.
“This is indicative of nosediving of law and order in the state,” the governor said.
In an apparent dig at ruling Trinamool Congress, Dhankhar said that the administration is “required to rise above partisan interests” which he claimed was “not being reflected in reality”, reported NDTV.
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
According to West Bengal’s Director-General of Police (DGP) Manoj Malviya, 11 arrests have been made so far in the case.
“Today morning the bodies of seven people have been removed from the same house. Earlier ten people were said to have died. The death figures given earlier were not correct. A total of eight people have died,” Malviya was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The protests ensued soon after the body of TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh was found on Monday, the cops said.
BJP’s Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, appealed for central intervention and alleged “terror and tension” in the area in a series of tweets.
Meanwhile, as many 22 BJP MLAs walked out of the state Assembly on Tuesday at the end of the first half of the day’s session demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee make a statement on the floor of the House regarding the gruesome violence.
