Bengal post-poll violence: Mamata holds meeting with officials, Nadda reaches Kolkata; PM Modi speaks to Governor

 As different political parties accuse each other of indulging in post-poll violence in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday held a meeting with the top administrative and police officers of the state and took stock of the situation, PTI reported. The CM’s meeting comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialed Governor Jagdeep Dhankar earlier in the day and expressed “serious anguish and concern” over the “worrisome” law and order situation in the state.

Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay, Home Secretary H K Dwidevi, Director General of Police P Nirajnayan and Kolkata Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra, were present in the meeting with CM Mamata.The result of the West Bengal Assembly election was declared on May 2, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won its third successive term by winning 213 seats. However, hours after the results were declared, political violence erupted across the state Monday, with at least eight people reportedly killed. The BJP has claimed that six of its workers were among those killed, accusing the TMC of attacking and vandalising several of its offices, including one in Nandigram where the party’s candidate Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata. Adhikari’s car was also attacked in Nandigram, the party claimed.

The newly formed Indian Secular Front (ISF), which had aligned with the Congress-Left alliance, also claimed that one of its workers was killed in North 24 Parganas.

The TMC has rejected the allegation and claimed that one of its workers was killed in Burdwan.

Meanwhile, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar said PM Modi called him and expressed concern over the “law and order situation” in the state. Taking to Twitter, Dhankar said, “PM called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at alarmingly worrisome law & order situation @MamataOfficial I share grave concerns @PMOIndia given that violence vandalism, arson. loot and killings continue unabated. Concerned must act in overdrive to restore order.”

PM called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at alarmingly worrisome law & order situation @MamataOfficial

I share grave concerns @PMOIndia given that violence vandalism, arson. loot and killings continue unabated.

Concerned must act in overdrive to restore order.

— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 4, 2021