Killing of labourers planned, says Mamata

KOLKATA: Chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on Thursday termed the killings of six labourers from the state in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir as pre-planned murder as the bodies of the labourers arrived in Murshidabad district.

Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said the labourers were set to return to their homes soon. “But the manner they were murdered brutally after being abducted, I think it is a preplanned murder,” she said.

The bodies of the six labourers, killed in a terror attack in Kashmir, have arrived at their hometown here in Murshidabad district on Thursday morning, accompanied by grief-stricken family members, state ministers and TMC leaders among others.

Hundreds of people from farflung areas flocked Bahal Nagar village in the district to express condolences and attend the last rites.

On Wednesday, she had demanded a “strong investigation” into the incident to find out the truth. Mentioning that it is the Centre that is responsible for the law and order situation in the Valley, she said, “In Kashmir, there are no political activities and there is no political party there currently. The entire administration belongs to the central government, the Army and the other central forces... they are taking care of it.

“And on that day a delegation of European Union parliamentarians was visiting the state. Inspite of all this, how could they abduct these poor innocent fellows ... Im really shocked, she added.

State urban development minister Firhad Hakim, who was at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday night to receive the remains of the labourers, also lashed out at the Bjp-led central government over the security situation in Kashmir, seeking to the know the purpose of abrogating Article 370, in the wake of the recent terror attacks. He also questioned the “silence” of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident.