Kolkata/IBNS, April 2 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday blamed "outside provocation" for the nine-hour hostage crisis involving judicial officers in Malda's Kaliachak, even as the incident drew strong criticism from the Supreme Court of India.

Addressing a rally in Sagardighi, Banerjee appealed to the minority community to remain calm and not fall prey to what she described as attempts to incite unrest and divide votes ahead of the Assembly elections.

Assuring support to voters whose names were excluded during the ongoing revision of electoral rolls, the Chief Minister warned that any escalation could have serious political consequences.

She further urged people to resist attempts to divide communities.

"If you...