TMC's Abhishek claims 'BJP-backed miscreants' set ablaze 10 shops in Khejuri; BJP denies charge

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday alleged that ''BJP-backed miscreants'' set ablaze nearly 10 shops in Purba Medinipur's Khejuri in front of police personnel and accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of promoting ''targeted violence'' in West Bengal. Rejecting the allegations, a BJP leader in Purba Medinipur said the party always espouses peace. This came a day after the TMC national general secretary made a similar allegation while claiming that 60 shops were set on fire in the same place. Earlier on Monday, Banerjee shared on X a clip of a raging fire to claim that ''nearly 10 shops were allegedly set ablaze last night by BJP miscreants'' in the Jonka gram panchyayat area of Khejuri, ''right in front of police''. A senior police official said five shops were set ablaze by unidentified people at Khejuri late on Sunday night. Quoting eyewitnesses, the official said bike-borne unidentified miscreants set the shops ablaze in the Bhanganmari Kolmor area of Khejuri and two fire engines were rushed to the spot. RAF personnel and central forces have been deployed in the area, he said. Banerjee continued his tirade against the BJP, terming the incident ''a double-engine disaster''. He alleged people's ''livelihoods have been reduced to ashes because hatred and intimidation are now being used as political tools''. ''This was the true face of the politics preached by (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and the BJP,'' the TMC leader said and alleged that ''targeted violence was being carried out with complete impunity''. Questioning the role of the central forces, he asked, ''Where are the central forces now? Or are they deployed only when it suits the BJP's political agenda?'' However, the BJP leader in Purba Medinipur claimed that some people, ''instigated by the TMC'', are trying to cause unrest in the area using the BJP's name. ''Police are investigating the matter, and we are also keeping a watch. Strict action should be taken against those involved,'' he said.

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