Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that control of villages through "muscle power" would not be allowed even as she charged that a political party was bringing hired goons and arms into Birbhum district.
"One political party, I don't want to name them, is hiring goons from outside and bringing arms into the district. It will not be tolerated. We want peace in Birbhum," Banerjee said in an apparent reference to BJP, which has made some inroads into the district.
"Police have to stop it. The DGP himself is present here. We will not allow goons to control villages through muscle power," the chief minister told reporters here after an administrative meeting.
Claiming that some people were trying to portray a negative picture of the law and order situation in Birbhum, Banerjee said development of the district was her priority.
On the arrest and slapping of some non-bailable charges against a woman in Sattor village who had earlier accused the police of torturing her, the chief minister said, "None has the right to take law into his or her hands. She must have done something, else why would she be arrested? Law will take its course."
Asked about the woman's statement as to how she could have bombs with her when police was posted outside her house, Banerjee retorted, "How can one know what a person did inside his/her house?"
The woman, Hitunnesha Bibi -- who is a relative of a BJP activist -- her husband, mother-in law and three others were arrested on Saturday for allegedly blocking a highway and attacking the police with bombs. They have been remanded in judicial custody till July 17.
