‘Hope WB govt takes action against culprits’: PM Modi on Rampurhat killing

On the occasion of Shaheed Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Biplobi Bharat Gallery at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata on Wednesday via video conferencing. Addressing a virtual event, Modi said the Central government will provide all support in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Describing the killings as “heinous”, the Prime Minister said he hoped the state government would take steps to punish the culprits quickly.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from West Bengal on Wednesday staged a demonstration in the Parliament premises over the Birbhum incident where eight charred bodies were found after their houses were set on fire. The BJP MPs held protests carrying placards “We want central government intervention in West Bengal to stop state-sponsored terrorism”. 

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The BJP leaders demanded CBI inquiry over the matter. “We want Centre’s intervention. Twelve bodies were recovered so far. Locals saying more people have died. This kind of barbarism should be probed. Twenty-six people were murdered in the last week. Our councillors were killed. An MP was attacked with bomb,” said West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar.

Eight people were charred to death as their houses were set on fire in Bogtui village near Rampurhat town of Birbhum district early on Tuesday.

Earlier today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the Rampurhat incident “unfortunate” but added that such incidents are more frequent in UP, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

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Mamata, who will visit Rampurhat on March 24, said she is not justifying the killings and her government will take action in a fair manner. “Strict action will be taken against all those responsible for the Birbhum incident, irrespective of their (political) colours,” Mamata said.

“The government is ours, we are concerned about people in our state. We would never want anyone to suffer. The Birbhum, Rampurhat incident is unfortunate. I have immediately dismissed the OC, SDPO. I will go to Rampurhat tomorrow,” Mamata said.

Meanwhile, the Biplobi Bharat Gallery, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, displays the contribution of the revolutionaries in the freedom struggle and their armed resistance to British colonial rule. 

The revolutionary movement, formation of significant associations by revolutionary leaders, spread of the movement, formation of the Indian National Army, the contribution of Naval Mutiny will also be showcased at the gallery.

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