Kolkata: 

Targeted by the BJP over the killing of eight people in Bengal’s Birbhum, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said “such incidents have happened in Gujarat and Rajasthan too” and assured action “in a fair manner”. She also said she would visit the area tomorrow.

Eight people were burnt alive as their homes were set on fire by a mob near Rampurhat town of Birbhum district early Tuesday. The killings were suspected to be in retaliation of a Trinamool leader’s murder the previous day.

The violence and killings have revived sparring between Mamata Banerjee and the BJP, which has demanded her sacking and a central investigation.

“Such kinds of incidents have happened in Gujarat and Rajasthan too. I am not justifying the incident in Rampurhat. We will take action in a fair manner,” Mamata Banerjee said.

“The government is ours, we are concerned about people in our state. We would never want anyone to suffer. The Birbhum, Rampurhat incident is unfortunate. I have immediately dismissed the OC, SDPO (officer in-charge, sub-divisional police officer) of Rampurhat. I will go to Rampurhat tomorrow,” added the Chief Minister.