11 Dead, Several Rendered Homeless in Bengal Post-Poll Violence

Kolkata: As many as 11 persons, including a woman CPI(M) activist, Kakali Khetrapal, were killed during post-poll violence in West Bengal. Khetrapal was killed in Jamalpur of Burdwan district where the violence took an ugly turn.

An Indian Secular Front activist Hasanujjaman was also killed in a bombing incident in Duttapukur of North Parganas district . In both cases, supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been accused of unleashing the violence.

The post-poll violence also left six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists dead. The TMC also claimed that four of its activists had lost their lives.

The violence broke out in several areas soon after the Assembly elections results that gave a thumping majority to the incumbent TMC. There were reports of loot, arson and vandalisation of some opposition party offices in some areas.

In Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas, an entire locality, called Kenia Khamarpara, came under attack and 51 people were reportedly rendered homeless after vandalisation for supporting the Left front, said sources.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed helplessness about the incidents and said said only after she swears in as the chief minister for the third term can any redressal be done.

At Diamond Harbour, the homes of state Students Federation of India president ,Pratikur Rahman, was reportedly looted. Rahman was a CPI(M) in the recently held Assembly polls who lost the election.

Condemning the violence, CPI(M) leader Shamik Lahiri alleged that JCB machines were being used to demolish the homes and shops of CPI(M) and ISF activists in comes areas. In several areas of North 24 Parganas, many district party offices and homes of Left leaders and activists bore the brunt of post-poll violence by “unofficial victory squads of TMC activists”, he said, adding that a party office in Jadavpur, too, was ransacked by TMC activists

Later, in a press release Left Front Chairman Biman Basu condemned the “terror of TMC and the communal hatred being spread by BJP and TMC” in the state. He alleged that after the results were clear, TMC “restarted terror tactics” in the state.

Basu said the TMC-BJP violence in many places had taken a communal colour and accused both parties of fanning communal hatred. He appealed to state police and administration to take immediate steps to bring the situation under control.

Later, the Ministry of Home Affairs sent a letter to the DGP of police enquiring about the post-poll violence. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar too called up the Chief Minister and DGP asking them to take steps to stem the violence in different parts of the state.