One dead, several injured as violence erupts in Bengal

Team Udayavani, May 25, 2019, 5:25 PM IST

Kolkota: Violent incidents were reported from across West Bengal on Saturday in which one person died and many were injured, officials said, as a face-off brewed between the ruling Trinamool Congress and a surging BJP after the Lok Sabha results were declared.

TMC alleged that a number of its party offices have either been taken over or vandalised by BJP workers.

In Coochbehar, the Trinamool alleged its party offices at Bakshirhat, Mahishkuchi, Rampur, Shalbari were vandalised by BJP activists. TMC party office in Sitalkuchi area of the district was also ransacked.

“Since the results came in, BJP workers have either locked down our party offices or vandalised them or set them on fire,” said TMC’s Sitalkuchi block president Abed Ali Miya.

BJP’s Nisith Pramanik defeated TMC’s Paresh Adhikary on the Coochbehar seat.

The BJP, on the other hand, alleged its workers were attacked by TMC activists in the district’s Bakshirkuti area during a victory procession.

Though the TMC has denied the allegations, BJP said its members from the minority community were attacked with sticks and spears.

In Sitai area of the district, TMC alleged that country-made bombs were hurled at the house of a leader of its women’s outfit.

Similar incidents were also reported from the Bankura district, where the BJP alleged that a local leader was shot at.

The incident happened in Saltora area of the district on Friday morning when BJP leader Bidyut Das (42) was leading a victory rally, BJP district president Vivekananda Patra said.

He accused local TMC leader Kali Roy of leading the attack despite police presence. When contacted, TMC district president Arup Khan refused to comment.

Bankura Superintendent of Police Koteswara Rao N said complaints have been filed by both the parties and the situation is under control.

In Panchmura area of the district, TMC alleged that an office of its trade union, INTTUC, has been vandalised by BJP workers and houses of several leaders were attacked on Friday night. BJP has denied the allegations, saying the incident happened because of TMC’s infighting.

BJP’s Subhas Sarkar defeated state minister Subrata Mukherejee, a veteran politician, on the Bankura seat.

Clashes have also been reported from Bhatpara and Kakinada areas under the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat, where BJP’s Arjun Singh defeated Dinesh Trivedi of the TMC.

TMC alleged that its party offices have been taken over by Arjun Singh’s men in Kakinda area. Police said forces have been deployed to control the situation.

“We have got reports of violence from Bijpur and Naihati as well. Police picketing has been increased in these areas,” a police official said.

Several bikes were set on fire, shops were vandalised, houses belonging to TMC workers were ransacked by alleged BJP workers in these areas, he added.

A 23-year-old BJP worker was shot dead in Nadia district’s Chakdaha town last night with the saffron party alleging that TMC men were behind the incident.

BJP leaders and workers blocked National Highway 34 and railway tracks at several places across the district to protest the killing, police said.

Several houses of CPI(M) supporters in Bhangar, part of Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat, were attacked and ransacked allegedly by TMC workers. CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said TMC leader Arabul Islam’s supporters vandalised the houses.

The reports of violence came even after 200 companies of central forces are present in the state.

Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has appealed to maintain peace