Home Ministry seeks report from Bengal government on political violence, doctors’ protest

Amid continuing political violence in the state of West Bengal, the Home Ministry has sought a report from the state government on measures taken to contain such incidences. Confirming the report, Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Saturday took to Twitter and wrote, “Centre has sought a report from West Bengal Govt on measures taken to contain political violence and investigate such incidents of violence to bring culprits to book.”

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued another advisory to West Bengal state government on the ongoing strike by doctors and sought a report on the matter urgently.

— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) June 15, 2019

Centre has sought a report from West Bengal Govt on measures taken to contain political violence&investigate such incidents of violence to bring culprits to book.

— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) June 15, 2019

Earlier, the Centre government had issued an advisory to the West Bengal government to contain the political violence in the state. According to the report, the number of incidents of political violence in West Bengal increased from 509 in 2016 to 1035 in 2018. Nearly 800 incidents have already taken place in 2019. "Correspondingly, the death toll rose from 36 in 2016 to 96 in 2018 while 26 deaths have already taken place in 2019 till date," sources said.

"The continued trend of political violence from 2016 through 2019, as evident from the above figures, is indicative of the failure on the part of the law enforcement machinery of the state," the advisory read.

"A report may be sent to this Ministry on the steps taken by the state government and its law enforcement machinery to investigate the incidents of violence to bring the culprits to book as also the measures taken to contain and curb violence," it added.