According to the BJP, from Sitalkuchi in the north to Kolkata in the south, at least six party workers were killed and scores of homes of supporters and party offices attacked.
At least a dozen people have been reported dead in post-poll violence in Bengal within 24 hours of election results, a figure that may be higher than the number of those killed during the month-long polls.
Though Mamata Banerjee has blamed the BJP for violence, she has also called for calm. BJP President JP Nadda will arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday after which the party will hold a day-long protest across the country tomorrow, the day Ms Banerjee is sworn in as Chief Minister for the third time.
The Home Ministry has sought a report from West Bengal. On Monday around 5 PM Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar met BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh. Later in the evening, he also met Mamata Banerjee. He discussed the eruption of violence with her and called for a report from the state authorities.
According to the BJP, from Sitalkuchi in the north to Kolkata in the south, at least six party workers were killed and scores of homes of supporters and party offices attacked, vandalised and set on fire across Bengal.
The Trinamool Congress has claimed five supporters were killed, of those three in East Burdwan, one in Hooghly.
At Bhangar in south 24 Parganas, a worker of the Indian secular front, a partner with the left and Congress in the Samyukta Morcha, was killed. Bhangar is the lone seat won by the ISF, in fact, the Morcha.
“Bengal is a peace-loving place. During the elections, there has been some heat and dust and calm. The BJP did a lot of torture, also the CAPF. But I appeal to all for calm. Don’t indulge in violence. If there is a dispute, inform the police. The police must manage law and order,” Mamata Banerjee said.
BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh said, “It’s a good thing Mamata Banerjee has called for peace. If things don’t calm down, then we will hold protests and dharnas. In less than 24 hours of the results, at least 5-6 of our party workers were killed, a 1000 homes and offices vandalised. Why this violence by Trinamool even after a victory?”
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