Kolkata: The Center on Sunday issued an advisory expressing "deep concern" over the continuing political violence in West Bengal.
"The unabated violence over the past weeks appears to be a failure on the part of the State law enforcement machinery to maintain the rule of law and inspire confidence among people," an informed source said, quoting the advisory.
Asking the authorities to maintain peace and public order, the advisory has also sought strict action against officials found delinquent in discharge of their duty.
The advisory follows reports that four persons were allegedly killed on Saturday in clashes in North 24 Parganas district. Earlier too there were incidents of violence involving the BJP and the ruling TMC.
Another flare-up was averted on Sunday as the state BJP prepared to cremate the bodies of the workers who died on the Basanti highway.
Hundreds of agitated workers gathered at the spot and preparations had started for a funeral pyre. But the BJP leadership reversed the decision midway, announcing a series of protests, including a state-wide "Black Day".
With graphic images of those slain in the clashes circulating on the social media since Saturday night, internet services were suspended in the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency. A large contingent of police and Rapid Action Force personnel has also been deployed.
Meanwhile, a BJP delegation, led by the party's state President Dilip Ghosh visited the troubled Sandesh-khali area. According to local residents, the clashes broke out over forceful removal of BJP flags on Saturday afternoon.
The police has so far confirmed deaths of three political workers -- two from the BJP and one from the TMC -- though the two parties claim at least eight deaths. State BJP sources claimed that five party workers wereshot dead at point blank range, while 18 others had gone missing.
The TMC, in turn, accused the BJP of fomenting unrest and killing at least three of its party workers, "two of whom were thrown into the river". The state BJP leaders met the family members of the slain party workers and also visited the Basirhat Hospital,where the injured BJP activists have been admitted.
The BJP leader said his party would demand compensation from the Bengal government for the bereaved family."We will continue our protest against this brutality. We will hold a rally here on June 12," he said.
BJP workers also blocked roads and held demonstrations in Bankura, Hoogly, Howrah, Midnapore, Malda, Barackpore, Naihati and North and South Kolkata.
A number of BJP men were arrested while holding a protest near the party's state headquarters in central Kolkata. Meanwhile, a TMC delegation visited the family of Kayum Mollah, one of the dead party workers.
