Mukherjee expresses concern over West Bengal law and order situation

Kolkata, Jan 10 (ANI): Expressing concern over a deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said it is very unfortunate and totally unacceptable that every day there are killings and political clashes.

Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, Mukherjee said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is in touch with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on the issue.

"We are concerned about the deterioration of law and order situation, killings which are taking place in different parts of the state. Home Minister is in touch with the Chief Minister of the state. I do hope it would be possible to stop the killings," he said.

Mukherjee had earlier said that it is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order, and to protect the people living in Maoist-infested areas.

" It is the duty of the state government to ensure security of the people. We sent the CRPF to combat the Maoist terror but despite that incidents of violence are taking place," he added

Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met him on Sunday night and briefed him on the situation there.

Their meeting comes in the backdrop of the shootout in Lalgarh on Friday in which armed Left workers were accused of opening fire killing seven people.

The latest round of violence has made the Trinamool Congress demand early elections in West Bengal. Earlier, Banerjee said: "The Netai village is witnessing repetition of what happened in Nandigram in 2007. Few days back three people died and today seven to eight bodies have been identified."

Banerjee further said the condition in Netai village is very devastating and many dead bodies are still missing.

"I have got to know that the condition is very devastating there. They (villagers) have told me where they have been shot bullet and how they (villagers) have been operated. I have been also informed that there are still few dead bodies missing," she stated. (ANI)