Mamata Banerjee assures industry that violence will not be tolerated

Kolkata, June 16: Asserting that violence in the name of trade unionism would not be tolerated, West Bengal Chief Minister

today said six people have been arrested in connection with the killing of the chief executive officer of North Brook jute mill.

Replying to a question in the state assembly, Banerjee assured the captains of industry that the guilty in yesterday's killing would be punished and she would do everything to ensure that justice is done in the case by dealing with the matter with strong hands.

The government would not tolerate violence in the name of trade unionism, she said adding six persons have been arrested so far in the case. The police has been asked to take necessary action.

"There is no place for violence in a democracy," she said while holding unruly sections of jute mill workers belonging to CITU and BMS responsible for the unfortunate death.

While one trade union belonged to CPI(M), the other belonged to BJP. If the workers had any issue with the management, they should seek a peaceful solution, as that is the only solution.

Rejecting demands by Congress MLA Manoj Chakraborty of a CBI probe into the case, Banerjee said the government has an administrative mechanism and the police is taking action. She said she has spoken to the district superintendent of police and Finance Minister Amit Mitra who went to meet the mill owner after the incident.

On the killing of four TMC supporters at Raidighi in South 24-Parganas district, she said four persons have been arrested and others will be arrested soon, ''however mighty they are.'' She described the attack as a pre-planned one and said this was unimaginable.

Trinamool Congress leader Partho Chatterjee blamed CPI(M)'s 'harmad vahini' (goons) for the incident which led to a walkout by Left leaders.

"How can they use such unparliamentary language in the assembly," Opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra told reporters outside the house where the opposition members shouted slogans.

PTI