The report of the Central Intelligence Bureau (IB) on the recent violence in Basirhat sub-division and its adjoining areas in North 24-Parganas district has confirmed that there was instigation by "outsiders".
A few days after the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had held the Centre liable for the deterioration of the law and order situation at Basirhat sub-division and its adjoining areas as there was involvement of some people who had entered the country by crossing the border that is being manned by the Border Security Force (BSF).
She had said that is was the responsibility of the Centre to protect the borders, and wondered "How it was possible for the instigators to cross the border so easily both before and after the incident?"
Now, the IB report that has been submitted to the Home Ministry confirms what the Bengal chief minister has been saying all along on the involvement of 'outsiders'.
It may be recalled that the law and order situation at Basirhat sub-division and its adjoining areas had deteriorated following a fake post on a social networking site. A large police contingent was deployed and the situation was finally brought under control.
Sources said the IB report also sheds light on the ground situation when the incident had taken place and how the violence was being instigated. Moreover, the intelligence agency says how the "outsiders" had utilised the situation to try and ensure that things veered out of control.
It is learnt that the intelligence agency has also found out how the "outsiders" had resorted to instigation so that trouble could persist for long. Rumour-mongering was used as a major tool to foment trouble at the fringe of North 24-Parganas district. It may be recalled that the state government had taken several steps including creating awareness among people so that they did not fall prey to rumour mongers.