West Bengal: Gloom descends on village while leaders play blame game

Kin mourn near the victim’s body, in Cooch Behar, on Saturday. Pic/PTI

A pall of gloom prevailed at Jorepatki village on Sunday as the bodies of four people, who died when CISF personnel opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, were taken for burial by the bereaved families.

The four people were killed during the fourth phase of polling at a booth in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district on Saturday. Wearing black badges, villagers and relatives of the deceased went around the village with the bodies to protest the deaths. Tension was palpable in the area as people holding black flags walked in a procession with the bodies.

Claiming that the central forces opened fire on people, who were standing in a queue outside the booth at Jorepatki school, the villagers demanded justice and action against those responsible for the incident. Meanwhile, the political leaders blamed each other for the killing.

‘Instigated by Mamata'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instigated the attacked. He also accused the TMC supremo of doing appeasement politics even in case of deaths. "Mamata Banerjee had advised people to gherao central forces. Is that not responsible for the deaths in Sitalkuchi? Her advice had instigated the people to attack the CISF," Shah said at a rally.

‘Conspiracy by BJP'

Banerjee on the other hand claimed the tragedy was the "result of a conspiracy" hatched by the saffron party to intimidate voters. Amid polling for the fourth phase of polls on Saturday, four people died in Sitalkuchi when CISF personnel opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who "attempted to snatch their rifles", the police had said. To the accused CISF personnel, Banerjee said, "If you think someone is causing nuisance, speak to him, you also have lathis. How can you suddenly point your gun at the torso and neck of voters?"

04
No. of people killed in the firing by the CISF forces in Sitalkuchi

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