Tinsukia killings: Bengal BJP Prez writes to Rajnath Singh, wants Assam govt to take prompt action

A delegation of Trinamool Congress leaders are visiting Assam's Tinsukia district on Sunday to meet the family members of those who were killed by suspected militants. Led by Derek O' Brien, the TMC parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha, the team comprises the party's Lok Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haq and MLA Mahua Moitra.

At a time, when the Assam BJP government is facing flak in Bengal for failing to give adequate protection to Bengalis living there, Dilip Ghosh has written letter to Rajnath Singh urging him to take prompt action. Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh said in the letter accessed by Zee 24 Ghanta that, "people of West Bengal are extremely concerned with the killings in Tinsukia. Assam is a sensitive state, and hence such killings are a matter of great concern."He wrote that people expect the Centre to ensure safety and security of the Bengali Hindus living in the state.

Unidentified gunmen in battle fatigue shot dead five individuals, including three members of a family, near Kheronibari village in Tinsukia district on Thursday night. On Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed anguish over the killings and said an "environment of violence" was prevailing in the country.

Dilip Ghosh said that people hope that perpetrators of this heinous crime are given strong punishment by Assam government. He also urged the Assam government to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future so that Bengali Hindus residing there can live without fear.

In essence, Dilip Ghosh has put a strong message across to Rajnath Singh that the BJP government in Assam needs to get its act together. With TMC upping the ante on this issue, the BJP can ill afford to be projected as a party which can't give protection to Bengalis living in Assam. Hence Dilip Ghosh's letter has to be seen from that perspective. 

With PTI inputs