100 Bengal cops stood silent as henchmen attacked: VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for alleged police inaction as 'henchmen' allegedly attacked a mass wedding ceremony of tribals at the Bengal-Jharkhand border. The ceremony was arranged by the saffron outfit.

A mass marriage of 133 tribal couples in a village near Malda district of West Bengal was "attacked by the henchmen of Jharkhand Disom party with bows, arrows and sharp weapons injuring the participants and destroying valuables," claims the VHP. It added, the Bengal police which was present at the spot remained "mute spectators". Malda in Bengal to close to the border of Jharkhand.

Later, addressing a press conference, Bengal VHP's Achchutanand said that "We are running thousands of Sewa Karya (service projects) in the field of health, education, women empowerment, skill & village development for the welfare of our tribal brethren."

VHP claims that they had due permission from the authorities and more than 100 policemen were present at the venue.

Taking a sharp jibe at the Bengal government, the saffron outfit issued a statement that said, "It seems the complicity & anti-Hindu attitude of the ruling political party (of West Bengal). The role of Christian missionaries and communists in this act of vandalism and provocation also needs to be investigated."

While an FIR has been lodged, the VHP has warned of state-wide protests if the Bengal government fails to arrest the culprits immediately.IANS