North Dinajpur (West Bengal): With Kumargram MLA Manoj Orao arrested while picketing in support of 12 hour North Bengal bandh called by BJP over the alleged rape and murder of the teenage girl at Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur district in west Bengal, the incident is fast snowballing into the major political controversy in the state.
Kumargram police have arrested 16 BJP MLAs and supporters in connection with a bandh called by the party in North Bengal. The bandh was called to protest the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur, as well as the alleged murder of a BJP worker. Kumargram MLA Manoj Orao stated that they were peacefully picketing in support of the bandh when the police arrested them.
Not only the arrest of BJP MLA but there were reports of sporadic clashes and unrest in various parts of North Bengal, including the Ghumari area of Block No. 1. According to reports, Trinamool workers beat up BJP supporters who were protesting in support of the bandh. The BJP claims that the supporters were protesting peacefully by blocking the road, but Trinamool workers attacked them. The local Gerua camp leaders have also accused Trinamool workers of sudden attacks on BJP workers.
Trinamool, however, has denied these allegations and claimed that locals protested because they could not tolerate the violence of the BJP. The ruling party has nothing to do with the incident. The unrest caused by the bandh has caused inconvenience to common people. Buses with passengers have been stuck or stopped due to rocks falling on them.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday alleged that the BJP was behind the violence in Kaliaganj. She further added that the saffron party brought 'outsiders' to create unrest in the state. "Outsiders were brought in to set fire to Kaliaganj police station as well as ordinary people's property. Police will explore attaching properties of those involved in rioting," she said.
The Chief Minister also said that the BJP had set fire to the Kaliaganj police station and had planned it. She also added that the matter involving death of the young girl killed in Kaliaganj will be investigated. She also alleged that the Modi government at the Centre is bent on trying to disturb Opposition-ruled states.
On April 20, a young girl's body was found floating in a canal in Kaliaganj. Locals claimed that the minor was raped and then killed. The incident led to uproar and protests as people put blocked, burnt tires and set ablaze several shops. Clashes also ensued between the locals and police. Meanwhile, a video purportedly showing police personnel apparently dragging the victim's body while taking it for a post-mortem, went viral causing a storm between the TMC and the BJP.
