This Article is From Dec 24, 2016

BJP Panel To Visit Violence-Hit Dhulagarh In West Bengal Today

BJP Panel To Visit Violence-Hit Dhulagarh In West Bengal Today

Tension erupted when two groups clashed as a procession was brought out in Dhulagarh last week

Kolkata: A team of BJP leaders will visit Dhulagarh in West Bengal's Howrah district today after communal tension flared in the area last week. Members of the team will visit the area, meet affected people and prepare a report and send it to the centre.

The team will include of Lok Sabha lawmakers Jagdambika Pal and Satyapal Singh who is a former Mumbai Police Commissioner and has experience in handling communal tensions in Maharashtra during his policing career. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh will also accompany the team.

Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly was also supposed to be a member of the team but she will not be travelling as she has been admitted to AMRI Hospital Kolkata. Ms Ganguly had held a protest near Dhulagarh on Wednesday where she blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's administration for the situation there.

On Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee had blamed the BJP for a series of communal incidents in the state. Roopa Ganguly however had blamed a Trinamool legislator for the arson and looting at Dhulagarh and said the minority appeasement politics of the party was responsible for the incident.

She also alleged that people were brought in from areas like Metiabruz to execute the loot and arson.

The violence in Dhulagarh, just 35 km from Kolkata, started last week during a religious procession to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. Some locals claim the violence was unprovoked, others say stones were thrown at those participating in the procession. While it was on, houses and shops were burnt and ransacked and the matter has now turned into a political controversy.

Violence peaked on December 14 and the police had to rush in to control bombing and arson, allegedly by people brought in from other areas. But by then houses and shops were ransacked and burnt. The area continues to be under prohibitory orders.
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