Calcutta, Nov. 9: Mamata Banerjee today said chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s “irresponsible remark” about Maoists yesterday afternoon had led to the slaughter of four policemen last night.

“We are very sorry for those who are being killed almost everyday. They are someone’s children, too. But I feel Buddhababu’s daityagyanheen mantabya (irresponsible remark) is the reason why the EFR (Eastern Frontier Rifles) jawans were killed,” the Trinamul Congress chief told a rally to protest the CPM’s “terror”.

The chief minister had told a rally in West Midnapore’s Debra he would “drive the Maoists out of Bengal”. Hours later, the rebels gunned down the four jawans at a bazaar about 110km away.

Reluctant to blame the Maoists for the bloodshed, Mamata said: “A probe should be ordered into who killed the jawans. Is it the Maoists or CPM cadres?”

“What is the proof that CPM cadres are not killing policemen and others in Maoist guise? In Nandigram, we have seen CPM cadres in police uniform kill our men,” she said.

She warned the police to be on their toes because, “like the Maoists, the CPM cadres may rob you of your weapons, too”. “You have to protect yourself,” she said.

The Maoists and the Mar-xists are “in the same boat”, Mamata alleged. “They held a secret meeting in Junglemahal recently.”

The chief minister had levelled the same charge against Trinamul yesterday. He had also accused Mamata’s party of helping the Maoists identify their CPM targets. “Trinamul is showing them the way…. They are working hand in hand.”

Mamata said: “Trinamul is opposed to the killings and the Maoists. But the CPM cadres are using the Maoists to regain control of turf they lost because of the people’s mandate in successive elections.”

She blamed the chief minister for the “spurt in killings”. “Buddhababu, it is because of you that atrocities are rampant. Why can’t you bring peace? Why can’t you dump your terror tactics?” she asked.

Citing the arrest of four Trinamul supporters for showing black flags to the chief minister’s convoy on Saturday, Mamata accused Bhattacharjee of intolerance towards the Opposition.

“It is good that you arrested my supporters for showing black flags and shouting slogans. But did you arrest any of your cadres for blocking my way in Arambagh when I went to address a rally on Wednesday. They not only obstructed me but hurled abuses at me. Is this democracy?”

In Mamata’s next round features Lalgarh. The Trinamul chief said she would soon go to the Maoist-hit areas of West Midnapore for a padyatra.