Centre issues fresh advisory to Bengal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 15

The Centre today sought separate reports from the West Bengal Government on the ongoing doctors’ strike and on political violence in the state, which has claimed 160 lives in the past four years, officials said.

In an advisory on political violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reminded the Mamata Banerjee-led government of the continued trend of such killings in the past four years. It said: “Such incidents from 2016 through 2019 are indicative of the failure on the part of the law-enforcement machinery of the state in maintaining the rule of law and inspiring a sense of security among people.”

It said the government “was seriously concerned over the prevalent situation in West Bengal”. It also pointed out the growing number of election-related incidents and political violence and casualties during 2016-2019.

Quoting reports, the officials in the North Block said the number of incidents of political violence in the state increased from 509 in 2016 to 1,035 in 2018. “In 2019 alone, 773 incidents have already occurred. Correspondingly, the toll rose from 36 in 2016 to 96 in 2018, while 26 deaths have already taken place in 2019,” a senior official said.

“It is requested that a report may be sent to this Ministry (MHA) 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 and also the measures taken to curb violence,” the advisory said.

In another advisory, the MHA sought a report urgently on the physical attack on serving resident doctors and the consequent strike by them. The MHA said it has received a number of representations from doctors, healthcare professionals and medical associations from different parts of the country for their safety and security in view of the ongoing strike by doctors in West Bengal.

“It is requested that a detailed report be sent urgently on the representations and ongoing strike by the doctors,” it said.

On violence…

Such incidents from 2016 through 2019 are indicative of the failure on the part of the law-enforcement machinery of the state in maintaining the rule of law and inspiring a sense of security among people

On strike…

We have received representations from doctors, healthcare professionals and medical associations from across the country for their safety in view of the ongoing strike... It is requested that a detailed report be sent urgently