Bengal cop injured in clash dies, opposition blames Mamata

Kolkata, July 28 (IANS) Political rivals attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after a policeman, grievously injured during a political clash, died Monday, and demanded arrest of a ruling Trinamool Congress leader who had called for attacking police.

"Assistant Sub-Inspector Amit Chakraborty today (Monday) died at a private nursing home," Superintendent of Police (Birbhum) Alok Rajoria said. Chakraborty received fatal injuries in his abdomen after being hit by splinters while trying to prevent a clash June 3 in Dubrajpur in Birbhum district.

Claiming that Chakraborty's death will severely demoralise the police force, the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left Front demanded the arrest of the Trinamool's Birbhum unit chief Anubrata Mandal who earlier had asked his partymen to bomb the police if they prevented attacks on political rivals.

"Mandal, who had called for bombing the police, is roaming scot-free and a policeman had to pay with his life. If no action is taken against him, this will not only embolden criminals but severely dent the morale of the police," said state BJP president Rahul Sinha.

Echoing similar views, state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused Banerjee of patronizing criminals.

"One can only imagine the fate of law and order where the chief minister openly lauds a leader like Mandal for his organizational skill. Under this government, even police are not safe what to say about the common man," said Chowdhury.

Leader of Opposition and Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran Surjya Kanta Mishra held Banerjee responsible for Chakraborty's death and demanded the arrest of Mandal and other Trinamool leaders for repeatedly making hate speeches.