War of words in Bengal after 8 burnt alive

Rampurhat/Kolkata: A war of words broke out between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP and CPI(M) after eight persons, including two children, died in the early hours of Tuesday after their houses were gutted at Rampurhat in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.

The incident took place hours after the murder of a Trinamool Congress panchayat leader on Monday, DGP Manoj Malaviya told reporters in Kolkata.

Malaviya said seven charred bodies were recovered from one of the burnt houses, while one injured person died in hospital.

Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the incident, he said. The officer said TMC panchayat deputy chief of Barshal village, Bhadu Sheikh, was murdered around 8.30 pm on Monday

Shortly after the murder, eight houses were set on fire in Bogtui village situated on the outskirts of Rampurhat, which some claimed was in retaliation to the killing.

“The situation is now under control and a police picket has been established in the village. We are investigating how the houses caught fire and whether the incident is related to the death of the TMC leader,” he said.

Asked about claims by fire brigade officials that 10 bodies were found, the officer clarified while seven were recovered after the blaze was doused, three injured were rescued of whom one died in hospital.