Congress delegation not allowed to visit Makra

CHAUMONDALPUR(WB): A Congress delegation led by the party's state unit chief Adhir Chowdhury was not allowed to enter trouble-torn Makra village in Birbhum district, which was made out of bounds for politicians by the Trinamool Congress government.

Chowdhury led a team of 12 MLAs and other leaders to visit Makra where three persons were killed in a clash between Trinamool Congress and BJP on Monday amidst Section 144 CrPC imposed in the area.

The Prohibitory Orders was cited by the police who stopped the Congress delegation at Chaumondalpur, about three km from Makra.

Chowdhury, former Union minister, said three or four of the team would go to the village so that the Prohibitory Orders were not violated, but the police did not allow that too.

He then held a public meeting at that spot. In his speech, the WBPCC chief alleged that attackers rained bombs and bullets killing people while the police remained a mute spectator.

"Local people were scared of the police. They do not trust them and that's why they fled from their houses," he said adding the administration and the police should take steps so that those who had fled could return home.

The police on Thursday arrested BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, state president Rahul Sinha and other leaders for trying to enter Makra.

Twelve CPI(M) leaders were also arrested on October 29 when they tried to visit Makra. Congress and BJP teams were also stopped on that day.