West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee continuing her attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that the BJP government in Jharkhand is responsible for the unrest in Pakur on Eid. Banerjee blamed the police for ‘targeting a particular community’ on the day of the festival. Police had to open fire on people after reports of people sacrificing a cow on the occasion of eid emerged. According to Banerjee, several injured people fled from Jharkhand to West Bengal after the incident occurred. These people are now being treated at hospitals in West Bengal she told reporters.
Tension flared on Wednesday when a dozen people in Dangapara village of Pakur in Jharkhand were injured after villagers clashed with police over reports of cow slaughter during Eid celebration in full public view. According to the police, the clashes occurred when police reached the village and tried to stop animal slaughter which was happening in public view. Five policemen were injured in the following clashes.
She also accused the incumbent Jharkhand government of targeting a specific community and of behavior which she categorized as ‘inhumane’.
The laws regarding cows and cattle slaughter differ from one state to the other. In some states, there is a blanket ban on cattle slaughter, including cow and buffalo. The Jharkhand government in 2015 had banned cow slaughter in the state.
The West Bengal chief minister also accused the BJP government in Jharkhand of dictating people’s food habits and that she would provide ‘shelter’ to the these ‘refugees’ and provide them healthcare.
Earlier this week, the West Bengal government filed an affidavit in the Calcutta High court stating that the state lacks the needed infrastructure to stop the animal slaughter. The affidavit was filed in response to the court order directing the TMC government to regulate animal slaughter during Bakri Eid.
