After Bhangar, West Bengal government plans tough law against rioters

Kolkata: Rattled by the violent public protests over an under-construction power grid at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, the Mamata Banerjee government is planning to bring a tough legislation to punish rioters and arsonists.

“We will table a new bill in the next Assembly session. Those who try to vandalise or set afire a private or public property will have to pay entire compensation for the damaged asset. Even their property and other belongings can be attached for the payment of compensation. We are going to be very tough,” the chief minister announced on Friday.

Sending out a strong message to the perpetrators of violence she elaborated, “Those who are up to rioting and arson should be careful because from now on they will have to suffer for their deeds. My legislation is ready and it will be passed in the Assembly.”

Referring to cyber crime, Ms Banerjee pointed out, “Nowadays the development in science has reached such a level that anyone spreading rumours from a fake account on Facebook to trigger riot can be easily tracked down. The real identity of the person can be known through investigation.”

She was speaking at Khadya Sathi Dibas & Police Investiture Ceremony on Red Road where she announced a number of health initiatives, awarded medals to the 68 police personnel and witnessed a procession of cultural troupes.

Ms Banerjee mentioned, “Often some persons, infuriated over an incident, torch innocent people’s houses and police vehicles. It is not appropriate in democracy. No one has the right to torch and destroy any property. There are some indisciplined political parties. I firmly believe that the people will not get incited by them and will ignore them.”

She said, “There are also some people who trigger riots from home. Is this what today’s politics? It is not. Politics does not mean rioting and arson. It does not also mean shooting. When we were in the Opposition, we never resorted to arson.”

Without naming Bhangar, she wondered if those who torched the police vehicles knew how much does it cost her cash-crunched government to purchase them. She noted if anyone could lodge a complaint if he had any grievance, even it was against police.

“You can seek justice. The government will certainly deliver it. But instead of lodging a complaint why are you taking laws in your hands? There should be an end to rioting and arson because anyone needs lots of money to build a home which should not be vandalised on the pretext of right,” Ms Banerjee observed.

She also expressed her anguish over frequent public interest litigations filed by some opposition political leaders against the government at the court, saying “They need court, not vote.”