New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Bogtui village on Thursday afternoon where eight people were burnt alive earlier this week, and spoke with the family members of those killed.
Speaking to the kin of victims, she assured that a thorough probe will be conducted by the SIT and strict action will be taken against the culprit.
Banerjee said that suspects of the Rampurhat killings will have to be hunted down and arrested unless they surrender, and asserted that police would ensure the strictest punishment for the culprits.
The chief minister also separately spoke with the family members of slain local TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh. One of his family members fell ill while describing their ordeal to Banerjee.
"Police will ensure strictest punishment is handed out to culprits responsible for the Rampurhat carnage. The case filed before the court should be water-tight," she said, according to a PTI report.
The chief minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the victims and handed over the cheque to the family members. She also said that Rs 2 lakh each for rebuilding the damaged houses and hose injured will be provided Rs 50,000 each.
She also promised permanent government jobs to members of the 10 affected families.
"Police has been ordered to throw a dragnet to unearth secret caches of illicit firearms and bombs across Bengal," Banerjee said.
Meanwhile condemning the incident, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar said, "this is a shameful event and an indelible scar on Governance. The burning of people alive in a democracy in this manner is very painful. I appeal to the govt to learn the lessons rather than offering defence."
Eight people, including two children, were charred to death as nearly a dozen huts were set ablaze in Birbhum district early Tuesday in a suspected fallout of the murder of a ruling TMC panchayat official.