BJP MP Roopa Ganguly, others detained by police on their way to Baduria

Roopa Ganguly (PHOTO: Facebook)


Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Roopa Ganguly was on Friday detained near Michael Nagar by the West Bengal Police on her way to violence-hit Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district.

“It was fine till the administration worked on arresting the culprit of the Facebook post, but the violence which has now erupted is highly condemnable. We will also talk to the administration to ask why this happened,” Ganguly was quoted by a news agency.

Ganguly said that people want to necessarily prove that the issue is communal.

Earlier in the day, the Left and the Congress leaders were also stopped by the police from entering Baduria as the situation was still volatile following communal clashes. A Congress team led by party’s state chief Adhir Chowdhury was also stopped at Barasat.

CPM (Marxist) MP Mohammed Salim was also stopped twice by the police earlier on Friday.

The teenager behind the controversial Facebook post leading to violence was produced in a court on Thursday and was sent to Basirhat jail.

According to reports, West Bengal governor KN Tripathi on Friday expressed satisfaction over the steps being taken to restore peace in the riot-hit areas of North 24 Parganas district.

"I want peace and law and order to be restored. And I am happy that steps are being taken in that direction," he said.

Meanwhile, TMC MLA Deependu Biswas has been removed as the party in-charge of the area following the violence in the area.

Police and paramilitary forces marched through the troubled areas of the district to quell violence. Although the state government said the situation was under control in Baduria, Swarupnagar, Deganga and Basirhat areas, unofficial sources reported sporadic violence in some pockets on Thursdayevening.

Locals chose to stay indoors with shops, markets, schools remaining closed and the public transport badly hit.

Baduria and its adjoining areas have been on the boil following the objectionable Facebook post put up by a Class 11 student.

(With inputs from agencies)