The Centre on Saturday sought a report from the Mamata Banerjee dispensation on the measures it took in light of the “unabated” and “increasing” incidents of political violence and resultant deaths since 2016 in the State.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said according to reports it received, the number of incidents of political violence in West Bengal increased from 509 in 2016 to 1,035 in 2018. While as many as 773 incidents have already occurred in 2019 till date, correspondingly, the death toll has risen from 36 in 2016 to 96 in 2018. In 2019, 26 deaths have been reported, it stated.
The MHA said the continued trend of political violence from 2016 through 2019 is indicative of the “failure” on the part of the law-enforcement machinery of the State in maintaining the rule of law and inspiring a sense of security among the people.
The “unabated violence over the years is evidently a matter of deep concern”, the Centre said, pointing out the growing number of election-related and political violence.
“It is requested that a report may be sent to this Ministry on the steps taken by the State Government and its law enforcement machinery to investigate the incidents of violence to bring the culprits to book as also the measures taken to contain and curb violence,” the MHA’s advisory to the Trinamool Congress Government said.
While violence marred the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections in the State, in the post-poll scenario too the TMC and the BJP, which has emerged as the principal challenger to the ruling party, have been at serious loggerheads with both sides accusing each other of unleashing violence against each other’s workers.
West Bengal Governor Kesharinath Tripathy recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, apparently to brief them about the current situation in the State.