'Birbhum incident shows that govt is using Muslims as foot soldiers': AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government over the Birbhum incident in which eight people were burnt alive early on Tuesday.

"Whatever happened in Birbhum shows that govt is using Muslims as their foot soldiers. Two groups of same political party creating violence where several people, incl children, are killed is condemnable. State govt failed to control violence in Bengal," news agency ANI quoted Owaisi as saying.

Meanwhile, taking a tough stance, Mamata Banerjee today said suspects of the killings will have to be hunted down and arrested unless they surrender, and asserted that police would ensure the strictest punishment for the culprits.

Banerjee, who landed at a helipad near Bogtui village, also promised permanent government jobs to members of the 10 affected families.

"Police will ensure strictest punishment is handed out to culprits responsible for the Rampurhat carnage. The case filed before the court should be water-tight," she said.

The chief minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the victims, and Rs 2 lakh each for rebuilding the damaged houses.

Those injured will be provided Rs 50,000 each, she added.

"Police has been ordered to throw a dragnet to unearth secret caches of illicit firearms and bombs across Bengal," Banerjee said.

Eight people, including two children, were charred to death as nearly a dozen huts were set ablaze in Birbhum district early Tuesday in a suspected fallout of the murder of a ruling TMC panchayat official.

(With PTI inputs)

Published on: Thursday, March 24, 2022, 05:31 PM IST