Kolkata, Oct 16 (IANS) Condemning “unabated violence” allegedly triggered by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Friday demanded the arrest of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for “masterminding” atrocities in the state.
Banerjee’s comments came as four of her party legislators, headed by leader of opposition Partha Chattopadhyay, staged a sit-in in front of Bhattacharjee’s chamber at the state secretariat Writers Buildings on the same demand.

Taking umbrage at the police arresting two party workers in Hooghly district following “instructions” from former CPI-M Lok Sabha MP Anil Basu, the Trinamool chief asked the legislators to demonstrate before Bhattacharjee’s chamber.

The slogan shouting legislators were later removed by police.

But a short while before the police action, Banerjee threatened to launch a greater agitation if any of the legislators were touched by the police.

“The CPI-M is triggering violence by murdering the opposition political party supporters in West Bengal. They are killing people, especially Trinamool activists, mercilessly with support from the chief minister.

“The state government, led by Bhattacharjee, is turning a blind eye towards the atrocities on our supporters,” Banerjee said.

“The ruling CPI-M is just trying to choke the democratic voice of the opposition. They are carrying out killings indiscriminately across the state. They are not even allowing us (Trinamool Congress) to hold any public rallies by imposing section 144,” she alleged.