Much ado about nothing? WB police refute charges of attack on BJP President’s convoy

While West Bengal Governor and BJP President J.P. Nadda have described the alleged attack on his convoy in West Bengal yesterday as murderous, West Bengal Police sources have refuted the propaganda.

In a letter sent on Friday to the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, who had summoned the state’s Chief Secretary and the DGP to discuss the state’s law and order situation, Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay pointed out that the incident did not warrant the reaction and the alarm shown by the Centre

Mr Nadda, who enjoys Z category security, had his CRPF escort and commandos besides his Personal Security Officers.

Over and above that, he was provided a pilot car and a bullet proof car to travel, writes the CS. The range DIG had been posted in the area to supervise arrangements. In addition four ASPs, 8 DSPs, 14 Inspectors, 70 Sis and ASIs , 40 Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawans, 259 constables and 350 Auxiliary Force jawans were deployed on the route and at the venue.

The Chief Secretary reminded the Home Secretary that BJP kept on adding vehicles to the convoy. While security can be ensured to a few vehicles, the CS writes, it isn’t possible to ensure security to a large number of vehicles.

As reported earlier, a few stray stones were hurled at vehicles at the rear end of the convoy, but nobody was injured. Police sources unwilling to be named claimed that preliminary investigation revealed that vehicles were speeding through narrow roads and one or two of them are alleged to have brushed against parked motor cycles, bicycles etc. on the side. This may have angered local people and a few of them hurled a few stones.

West Bengal Police soon thereafter tweeted, “ Shri JP Nadda, National President, BJP reached safely at the venue, Diamond Harbour, South 24 Pgs. Nothing happened to his convoy. Few bystanders at Debipur, Falta PS, Diamond Harbour PD, sporadically and suddenly threw stones towards vehicles trailing long behind his convoy. Everyone is safe and situation is peaceful. Matter is being investigated to find out actual happenings.”

But from the Prime Minister to the Home Minister condemned the alleged violence. Mr Nadda said he or the BJP would not be cowed down. The Governor of West Bengal went on TV to express grave concerns at the law and order situation in the state. This triggered angry reactions and outrage from various people. Some of the tweets can be read here: