BJP urges West Bengal governor to visit violence-hit Birbhum villages

KOLKATA: Amidst recent incidents of political violence in the state, BJP today requested West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi to visit the trouble-torn villages of Birbhum district where it alleged there have been instances of police atrocities against locals.

"A BJP delegation was not allowed to go there, so we have appealed to the governor to visit the area as the constitutional head of the state and save the villagers. He has assured that he will consider it," BJP state president Rahul Sinha told reporters after meeting Tripathi at Raj Bhavan here.

Along with BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Sinha was among the party leaders who were arrested yesterday for defying prohibitory orders and trying to enter Makra village, where three persons were killed and as many injured in a clash between TMC and BJP supporters on Oct. 27.

"They don't want the people to get to see BJP," Sinha said while alleging that police have smashed and looted most of the houses belonging to the members of the minority community apart from breaking tubewells and cutting off electricity connections to their villages.

Noima Bibi from Chowmandalpur in Parui, who accompanied the BJP delegation as it called on the governor, alleged that police had beaten them and forced them to stay in the open fields as their houses were destroyed in the violence.

"I don't even have proper clothes left with me to wear," she said.

Sinha said they will send a BJP team to the said villages tomorrow with food and water supplies.

Further slamming the police, he charged that how can people trust them when the chief minister herself had sought security from central agencies.