The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Thursday claimed it had alerted West Bengal home secretary and police chief about possible violence at Nandigram, where 14 people lost their lives during police action on Wednesday, but it was not heeded by the authorities.
Jamiat general secretary Siddiqullah Chowdhury told a press conference that he had received information on March 13 that there could be violence in Nandigram if police tried to enter villages to regain control of the area.
"When I got to know of this, I informed East Midnapore's superintendent of police, but he laughed it off. I then called up the DGP and he asked me to wait for a few days. I also spoke to the home secretary who said he would look into the matter," Chowdhury, whose group is an ally of the Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, said.
Accusing the home secretary and the DGP of aggravating the situation with their inaction, Chowdhury demanded that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who held the police portfolio, should resign as he had failed to protect the right to life and property of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution.
He said the Jamiat will support Friday's strike called by the Trinamool Congress to protest the violence. A march to Writers Buildings will also be organised on January 19 to demand the chief minister's resignation, he added.