8 die in Bengal after houses set afire

Eight people were burnt to death after their houses were set on fire at Rampurhat in Birbhum district in West Bengal, police said. As per reports, the incident took place within an hour after the alleged murder of a Trinamool Congress panchayat leader on Monday, DGP Manoj Malaviya said. Malaviya said seven charred bodies were recovered from one of the burnt houses, while one injured person died in hospital. The situation is now under control and a police picket has been established in the village. We are investigating how the houses caught fire and whether the incident is related to the death of the panchayat leader, he said. Asked about claims by some fire brigade officials that 10 bodies were found, the top police officer clarified while seven of them were recovered after the blaze was brought under control, three injured persons were rescued of whom one died in a hospital.