Less than 48 hours after political violence left three people dead at Basirhat and their families claimed that the police had failed to act, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said some of her ministers had also complained that a few lower-level policemen were "not doing their duty properly". The Director General of Police has already been told to take strong action, she added.
The admission drew an immediate reaction from the BJP. "Mamata Banerjee is the home minister. Her own ministers are apparently saying that the police are not doing their job. I say she must immediately resign," said BJP leader Mukul Roy.
Three people - a Trinamool Congress worker and two belonging to the BJP - were killed in post-election clashes that broke out between workers of the two parties at Basirhat in North 24 Paraganas district. In an advisory issued yesterday, the Union Home Ministry accused the state government of failing to contain the violence.
After a meeting with top cops, bureaucrats and ministers today, Ms Banerjee said, "I have asked the police to be strong. Hooliganism must be stopped. Some local officers in charge of police stations and Sub-Inspectors are not doing their duty."