West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to visit Birbhum, vows strict against those responsible for violence

The Chief Minister also promised to take strict action against those found guilty in the Birbhum violence. “Action will be taken against perpetrators of violence in Birbhum, irrespective of their political colours,” the Bengal CM said at a programme.

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that she will be visiting the violence-hit Birbhum district where at least eight people, including two children, were charred to death and nearly a dozen houses were set ablaze on Tuesday in a suspected fallout of the murder of a ruling TMC panchayat official.

“Will be going to violence-hit Birbhum district on Thursday to take stock of the situation, postponed visit as other political parties huddling there,” Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The Chief Minister also promised to take strict action against those found guilty in the Birbhum violence. “Action will be taken against perpetrators of violence in Birbhum, irrespective of their political colours,” the Bengal CM said at a programme.

At least 20 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence in West Bengal's Birbhum district that claimed eight lives, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

Eleven people were arrested the same day for their involvement in the incident. "With nine more arrests, the number of those who have been nabbed in the case rose to 20. We are grilling them to find out if there were more people involved in the incident. Some accused seem to have fled the village. We are trying to trace them," the officer said.