MHA Appoints 4-Member Team To 'Assess Ground Situation' And Probe Post-Poll Violence In Bengal

According to latest inputs, the violence has not stopped in West Bengal and this means that effective measures were not taken by the state government to control it, the letter said.

Image Source (Reuters)

Kolkata: The Union Home Ministry has formed a four-member team to probe the post-poll violence in West Bengal. The MHA has deputed the team led by an Additional Secretary level official to visit the State and assess the ground situation.

MHA has also sought a detailed report on the violence by the Bengal administration and cited that they have not received any update yet.

Trinamool Congress leader took oath as the West Bengal Chief Minister for the third time on Wednesday morning while local BJP leader reported about the violence which happened after the results were announced. CM Mamata Banerjee also took note of the situation and 'assured' that the situation will improve.

In her short speech at the swearing-in ceremony, she assured peace in the state and said, that there will be no political violence as she has stepped in as Chief Minister. "Bengal does not like violence nor do I. I will personally look into the law and order issues and make sure there's peace," Mamata Banerjee said. 

"I remind you that no report has been submitted despite my asking for details on post-poll violence on May 3rd. Non-compliance of this second letter would be taken seriously," Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in the second letter according to an NDTV report. 

According to the latest inputs, the violence has not stopped in West Bengal and this means that effective measures were not taken by the state government to control it, the letter said. Therefore, necessary steps should be taken to prevent these incidents without any loss of time, it added. A detailed report should be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) immediately, it said.

In case the report is not sent by the state government, the matter will be taken seriously, the letter added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that TMC-backed goons have killed a number of its workers, attacked its women members, vandalised houses, looted shops of its members, and ransacked its offices. Claiming that at least 14 BJP workers were killed and nearly one lakh people fled their homes in post-poll violence in West Bengal, party president J P Nadda alleged on Wednesday that the chief minister's silence speaks of her involvement.

The West Bengal CM rejected the charges, saying violence and clashes were taking place in those areas where the BJP candidates emerged victorious in the election. Banerjee had asked people on Sunday to show restraint and not indulge in any kind of violence.

Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna after taking the oath, the chief minister also claimed that most of the videos of violence being shared on social media are either fake or old.

"Law and order in West Bengal deteriorated in the last three months. There were some sporadic incidents and not all were real, most were fake. The BJP is showing old videos," she said. 

The TMC supremo said all the district magistrates (DMs) and superintendents of police (SPs) were asked to strictly deal with any emerging situation.