State to compensate families of post-poll violence victims

Kolkata: The state government will give compensation to the next of kin of those who died in post-poll violence, including two BJP supporters, announced Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday.

While addressing the gathering in Hare School ground in connection to the reinstallation of the statue of Vidyasagar which was vandalised at Vidyasagar College, she said: "It is most unfortunate that 10 people have died in post poll-violence, of which 8 are Trinamool Congress supporters while 2 belong to BJP. I do not support violence." Banerjee instructed Chief Secretary Malay De to take necessary action in this connection. However, the amount of compensation that would be paid has not been announced yet.

Banerjee said: "When the Left Front government was defeated after 34 years, we did not pull down statues nor was there any post-poll violence."

She alleged that in Sandeshkhali, BJP workers had killed the Trinamool Congress supporter first. Later, two other persons had been killed. "The police are conducting an inquiry and the report is awaited."

Banerjee said eight supporters of Trinamool Congress have been killed in incidents of post-poll violence. "Even on Tuesday, a Trinamool supporter has been killed in Galsi. What is going on?" she said.

Banerjee refuted the statement of Governor K N Tripathi that 12 persons have been killed in post-poll violence. "I respect the Governor but the figure he has quoted is not true."

The Governor met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home minister Amit Shah on Monday in Delhi and submitted a report to Shah.