Lalgarh violence: Chidambaram asks West Bengal CM to visit Delhi immediately

NEW DELHI/KOLKATA - Expressing concern over reports of fresh political violence in West Bengal, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday sent a letter to State Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asking him to reschedule all appointments and visit New Delhi immediately.

Chidambaram said he has received information that eight people were killed in the firing and 18 others were injured in it.

“I have written a letter to the chief minister and drawn his attention to this grave incident and requested him to kindly reschedule all (his) appointments and visit Delhi immediately,” he said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan taking on Chief Minister Bhattacharjee said it is high time for the government to take an appropriate step.

“I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the violence in our state. A decisive stage has reached for the government to act. For our state it is a day of sorrow and shame. No democracy can allow such violence,” said Governor Narayanan

Earlier today, six villagers, including a woman were killed and over 20 injured in firing by suspected armed CPI-M cadres in Lalgarh in West Bengal’s West Midnapore District.

The villagers, who had gathered to protest against demands made by Marxist armed cadre that they volunteer for night patrols and arms training, were fired at from a house at Netai village in Belatikri gram panchayat in Lalgarh police station area. (ANI)