Bengal ministers meet family of man hacked to death in Rajasthan

Kolkata, Dec 9 (IANS) A number of West Bengal ministers and political leaders on Saturday visited the family of a Bengali labourer, brutally killed in Rajasthan two days ago, and offered their condolences.

State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikari and senior Trinamool leaders and MPs Sougata Roy and Sudip Bandyopadhyay met Mohammad Afrajul's family in West Bengal's Malda district and handed over a compensation of Rs 2 lakh on behalf of the party.

"Such brutality and violence is unprecedented in India or in Bengal. I strongly condemn such acts of terror. Our government would be beside the helpless family in every possible way," Hakim said.

On Friday, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the killing and also announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh and a government job for one of the victim's kin.

State Congress President Adhir Chowdhury and Rajya Sabha member from Bengal Pradeep Bhattacharya also met the grieving family.

"People have to travel to different places in search of work sometimes. That is normal. But why such violence would take place against people?" Bhattacharya asked.

Afrajul was brutally hacked to death and set on fire by a local in Rajasamand district of Rajasthan in what has been described as a hate crime.

The horrifying video footage of the incident was released by the murderer himself. Police arrested the accused, Shambulal Raigar, on Thursday.

Denying the allegations of "love jihad", Afrajul's daughter Rejina on Saturday said: "Our father never got involved in such relations. My uncle used to stay with him in Rajasthan and he would have complained if our father had any relation with anyone. We want exemplary punishment of him."

Later the Trinamool took out a protest rally in Malda town while the Left parties brought a rally in Kolkata.

Hakim alleged the heinous crime was the "outcome of the BJP's polarisation politics".

"BJP has brought the politics of polarisation and intolerance in the country. West Bengal Director General of Police talked to his counterpart in Rajasthan and he assured about the security of migrant labourers," he said.

Condemning the brutal incident, Trinamool MP Bandyopadhyay said: "Thousands of Marwari people from Rajasthan had come to Bengal. They consider Kolkata and Bengal as their second home. They contributed immensely to Bengal's industrialisation. It is quite natural that people move from one state to another in search of jobs."

However, Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh alleged the ruling party in the state has been trying to politicise the incident which has to be stopped.

"Many people belonging to minority community were murdered in the state but the Trinamool had never hit the street condemning such incidents," he added.