Law and order has collapsed in Bengal: BJP ‘fact-finding team’ on poll violence

Based on their observations, the fact-finding team will submit a report to BJP president JP Nadda after visiting various violence-affected places in the state.

BJP MP Vinod Sonkar, who is leading the team, said,“Law and order has collapsed in Bengal. Around 10 BJP workers have been killed in the aftermath of the panchayat elections. Eight of them belonged to the scheduled classes. Violence takes place whenever elections are held here. ”

Addressing a press conference at the BJP office Kolkata on Sunday, he said, “So many deaths in West Bengal mean that the administration is not active to stop the violence.”

Meanwhile, BJP workers led by the party’s Malda MP Khagen Murmu Saturday staged a protest outside the SP office demanding stringent action against the accused in the July 18 incident where two tribal women were allegedly stripped and assaulted in a local market in Malda. The protest which started on Saturday continued till 4 pm on Sunday. The protesters also demanded the removal of Malda Superintendent of Police Pradeep Kumar Yadav.

According to reports, as Murmu sat outside Yadav’s office a scuffle broke out between BJP workers and the Malda police. “The police must take stringent action against those involved in the gruesome act of assaulting and disrobing the two tribal women,” said Murmu.

On Sunday, five persons were arrested in connection with a July 18 incident where two women were allegedly stripped and assaulted by other women traders in a local market after they were caught stealing. Police said the five accused were remanded in police custody for five days.

In Kolkata, five BJP MLAs also staged a dharna in front of the West Bengal Assembly in Kolkata on Sunday seeking removal of Malda SP over the alleged incident. The protesting MLAs, which included Manoj Tigga and Shankar Ghosh, held placards and raised slogans outside the Assembly.

Reacting to the protest, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen said, “We condemn what happened in Malda and people should not take law into their hands. But that incident cannot be used to divert people’s attention. What is happening in Manipur is unprecedented and must be condemned. The BJP is responsible for it. They cannot run away from their responsibility.”