Will unmask, punish those behind Malda violence: Rajnath

Ashok Nagar (West Bengal), Jan 21: Castigating the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal over the Malda violence, union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured that those behind the incident would be unmasked and brought to justice.

Describing the January 3 violence in Malda district's Kaliachak, where a police station was attacked and several vehicles torched, as "not a small incident", Rajnath Singh said no one in Bengal including police were safe.

"The Trinamool government described itself as the government of 'Maa, Maati and Manush' (Mother, land and people). But neither Maa, Maati nor Manush is safe. No one is safe in Bengal. Even police are not safe here," Rajnath Singh said at a party rally here in North 24 Parganas district, about 50 km from Kolkata.

"The Malda incident is not a small incident, and I want to tell this state government and the chief minister that those who are behind this incident, they will have to be unmasked.

"Who are responsible for the Malda incident, that needs to be unravelled. Just a few arrests will not suffice," said Rajnath Singh, wondering why the state government did not make elaborate police arrangements to tackle the situation.

"Didn't the government know that such a large procession will be there? Was it not the state government's responsibility to make suitable police arrangement?" he asked.

The home minister said the situation could have been averted had a senior police officer been at the spot from the beginning.

"I assure you, all those behind the Malda incident will be unmasked, and their destination will be jail.

"The criminals have become so emboldened that they are now attacking police stations. Do the people of Bengal want such governance?" he asked.

Rajnath Singh also rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that the incident was merely a dispute between the BSF and the locals.

"This was not a dispute between the BSF and a mob. Can the attackers on the BSF be called a mob?

"This government is trying to shield those who attacked the BSF, a force which secures our borders and has been giving a befitting reply to Pakistan.

"But those who attacked the BSF personnel are roaming scot-free. How can this happen?" asked Rajnath Singh.

"That's why I assure you, this incident will be unravelled and we will do whatever it takes."

According to reports, protesting against remarks allegedly made to "hurt religious sentiments" in Uttar Pradesh, a large number of people on January 3 went on a rampage in Kaliachak, torching vehicles including those belonging to the Border Security Force (BSF) and also attacked a police station.

IANS