PC decries political violence

Centre wants West Bengal CM to curb clashes

“The buck stops at the chief minister's table who in turn should ensure that the buck stops at the Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer's table. If it does not stop, it would be a failure of the administrative machinery,” Chidambaram told newsmen here in the wake of largescale allegation of violence by the CPM goons against the Opposition Trinamool and Congress activists.

“It is the duty of the state government to ensure inter-party clashes come to an end. There is a difference of perception. I have conveyed my perception to the chief minister and requested stern measures so that law and order is maintained in West Bengal,” Chidambaram said.

The Home Minister and Bhattacherjee had a nearly 40-minute meeting in Kolkata on Saturday.

According to him, the chief minister has identified half a dozen police stations, including  Canning (in South 24 Parganas district), Khejuri (in East Midnapore district) and Mangalkote where “law and order machinery was not effective”.

Several parts of Bengal have been witnessing violent clashes between the CPM and the Congress-TMC since last year's Lok Sabha elections, leading to loss of many lives and property.

Mangalokote block under Katwa sub-division of Burdwan district went up in flames following the murder of a CPM district committee member in June last year. Armed CPM men have torched a large number of households and held both the media and opposition leaders at bay, declining them permission to enter the troubled region till date.

Chidambaram said he was “very unhappy with what happened in Mangalkote”. Meanwhile, the home minister created a near flutter of curiosity when he suddenly broke the security cordon in this Naxal heartland and sought cooperation of the villagers in flushing out Maoists from the area.

Housewives Bisakha, Anjali and Kakali who were keen to have a glimpse of the minister, did not let the opportunity go when Chidambaram reached out to them. “We’ve given him a list of  problems faced by us. There is no road, no electricity, no drinking water and no transportation facility. What we get is only panic and terror...," Kakali said.“If we don't listen to the Maoists we will be harassed. It is the same with the police ... We have no alternative and are compelled to do what Maoists ask us to do...” was the unanimous cry of the women.