‘Disturbed’ Narayanan asks Bengal government to act decisively

KOLKATA - Saying he was “deeply disturbed and concerned” over the killing of seven people in a clash between two groups Friday near Maoist-affected Lalgarh, West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan urged the government to act “decisively” before the violence reaches a point of no return.

“I am deeply disturbed, saddened and concerned over the killing of so many persons in Lalgarh. I offer to the families of the deceased my heartfelt and most sincere sympathies,” said the governor in a statement.

Narayanan also told newspersons: “I will look into the matter in more details in consultation with the chief minister”.

“Enough information is available. We want action,” he said.

Pointing out that reports of political violence from the state have been appearing almost daily in the media, the release said: “With unfailing regularity, each day begins and ends with news of political clashes in different areas of the state. Hardly a district remains unscarred by such conflicts”.

On the Lalgarh incident, he regretted that not even mothers and daughters have been spared, calling it a “day of sorrow and shame” for the state.

“No democracy can allow such violence; no civilized society can tolerate such wanton disregard for human lives and no state can accept such mindless discord,” Narayanan said in the strongly-worded statement.

“In West Bengal, this has gone on for far too long. It is incumbent upon the authorities to begin to act decisively to pre-empt, prevent or quell attempts at violence, irrespective of the affiliations of the group involved. A decisive stage has been reached for the government to act, before it becomes a point of no return,” he added.

Meanwhile, state’s Additional Director General (Law and order) Surajit Kar Purkayastha said they will investigate the matter open mindedly.

“The clash broke out around 10.45 a.m. between two groups of people over the issue of a meeting. We are yet to get the political identity of the people and even of the person in whose house the meeting was held,” said Purkayastha.

“Two people have been arrested in this connection but their political identity has not been revealed. However, no arms have been recovered from them.”

When asked whether armed cadres were present and arms were used in the clash, Purkayastha said: “Obviously, there was firing … six people have been killed. We have recovered a landmine and eight empty cartridges. The cartridges are not of police.”