Deal firmly with post-poll violence in Bengal: Chidambaram

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Expressing concern over the post-poll violence in West Bengal, Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said he has asked the state administration to deal firmly with the political hostilities and clashes in the state.

"On Monday, I have spoken to West Bengal governor M.K. Narayanan and discussed the post-poll violence. Governor has also asked the director general of police and chief secretary to take appropriate actions to check the violence," he said. The home minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the building of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Akhaurah check-post along the Bangladesh border in Tripura. "This is a matter of regret.

Trinamool Congress leaders have also publicly asked all concerned not to go with any kind of retaliation or attack anyone," the home minister told reporters. "I would also appeal all concerned to maintain utmost peace and harmony in the post-poll Bengal. Everybody should carry his work quietly," Chidambaram said. A delegation of West Bengal's just ousted Left Front headed by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Mohammad Salim on Monday met Narayanan in Kolkata and urged him to stop post-poll violence "purposefully" carried against Left workers and supporters.

They alleged that three CPI-M leader and workers were killed in different parts of Bengal since the declaration of election results. Replying to a question about Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj's reports to the Central government, Chidambaram said: "I would not discuss the issue with media persons. It would be discussed in the Union Cabinet soon."