Violence affecting West Bengal politics: Governor on Joynagar murder case

Governor Bose asserts strong action will be taken against violence in Joynagar, South 24 Parganas district. Trinamool Congress leader Saifuddin Laskar shot dead, one of accused lynched by locals. Family members and local party leadership blamed CPI(M) leader. Houses of CPI(M) supporters ransacked and set on fire. Governor Bose says law will take its course, calls for strict action and social measures to stop violence influencing politics of West Bengal. Villagers of Doluakhaki return to homes, police arrest one of accused in Laskar's murder.

While pointing out that violence was affecting politics in West Bengal, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Wednesday asserted that strong action will be taken in connection to violence in Joynagar in the State’s South 24 Parganas district.

A local Trinamool Congress leader Saifuddin Laskar was shot dead at Joynagar on November 13, and one of accused was lynched to death by locals. The family members of the deceased Trinamool leader, as well as the local party leadership, had blamed a local leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for being involved in the murder. Canning Purba MLA and Trinamool leader Saukat Molla publicly alleged at the local CPI(M) leader were involved in the Mr. Laskar’s murder. Hours after the incident, the house of local CPI(M) supporters were ransacked and set on fire.

Mr. Laskar was an influential leader of Bamangachi area of Joynagar, and in addition to direct influence he wielded, his wife is a local panchayat pradhan.

“The law will take its course. We will certainly take strong action against it and Raj Bhavan will also be doing its duty. Strict action should be taken against violence. It requires not only legal action but also social measures,” the Governor said on the sideline of a programme at the Raj Bhavan here.

Mr. Bose also added that the violence, which is influencing the politics of West Bengal, must stop. A few months ago when violence had rocked the State during the panchayat polls the Governor had same similar comments on the law and order situation and even visited violence affected pockets in both north Bengal and south Bengal.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Doluakhaki whose houses were set on fire in the Monday violence returned to their houses on Wednesday. The CPI(M) supporters had taken shelter in the local party office after the violence. On Tuesday, the police authorities stopped the CPI(M) leadership from visiting the violence affected areas. The police had arrested one of the accused in the murder of Mr. Laskar.