Two persons were shot dead and five wounded on Thursday in Bhatpara
area of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district following clashes
between two groups, even as ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traded charges over the latest
outbreak of violence in the state.
Authorities imposed Section
144, prohibiting assembly of more than four persons, in Bhatpara and
Jagatdal areas of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district as local
police struggled to restore order in the area after groups of miscreants
allegedly attacked locals with crude bombs and firearms.
The
injured were taken to a hospital in Kolkata, where they were undergoing
surgeries and are reportedly in critical condition, locals were quoted
by news channels as saying.
The clashes started around 10.30am
with reports of crude bombs being thrown in the area. CCTV footages
aired on local television news channels showed men, their faces covered
with pieces of cloth, hurling crude bombs down a narrow lane.
Rapid Action Force and Quick Response Teams were deployed to bring the situation on the control, district officials said.
A
few hours after the clash, crude bombs were seen lying on the streets
in the area. Locals also pointed out a bullet hole in a steel shutter of
a shop. Officers said the hole indicated firing from high-calibre
weapon.
After a meeting at the state secretariat with the chief
secretary and senior police officers, home secretary Alapan
Bandyopadhyay said prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal
Procedure Code prohibiting the assembly of more than four persons have
been imposed on areas under Bhatpara and Jagaddal police stations.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal president and Lok
Sabha MP Dilip Ghosh and Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh alleged that the
police had opened fire on locals in the area. Senior BJP leader Mukul
Roy said that the local police have turned “trigger-happy” and alleged
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was responsible for the
clashes.
“A BJP delegation would visit the area and meet the
family members of the deceased. We will also send a report to the
Centre,” said BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.
Bandyopadhyay did not comment on whether the police resorted to firing.
The
additional director general of police (south Bengal) was given special
charge of Barrackpore Police to restore order in the area. In the
afternoon, the director general of police was asked to visit the area
even as a crowd threw stones at the vehicle of assistant commissioner of
Barrackpore Police.
Officials said that the chief minister
expressed deep unhappiness at the ongoing violence and the failure of
the police in seizing weapons in the area. “She ordered arrests
irrespective of political colour,” an officer told reporters.
One
of those who died was identified as Rambabu Shaw, a roadside vendor. He
was hit by a bullet in his head, one of his relative told reporters. The
other person who died in the clashes was identified by locals as
Dharamvir Shaw.
“Clashes are taking place all over the state and
there is anarchy everywhere. Both the persons fell to police bullets,”
said Vijayvargiya.
Keeping poll and post-poll violence in mind,
the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate had decided to set up a new
police station in Bhatpara to bring the law and order situation under
control. The facility is yet to be inaugurated.
Barrackpore BJP MP
Arjun Singh blamed the police for the deaths and the failure to restore
law and order in the area. “Both were killed by the police,” Singh
said.
Countering the BJP comments, North 24 Parganas TMC district
chief Jyoti Priya Mallick alleged that the clashes were a result of
infighting among BJP workers.
TMC minister Tapas Roy said, “Those
who did not want a new police station to be set up in the area were
fanning trouble in the area.”
“Arjun Singh and his followers are
indulging in politics of violence. The police are trying to restore
order,” said TMC’s Madan Mitra, former minister who unsuccessfully
contested the Assembly bypoll in Bhatpara last month.
Incidentally,
Bhatpara and Kankinara areas suffered violence for a few days since the
last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 19.
The area turned
restive after four-time TMC legislator Arjun Singh switched over to the
BJP before the polls and defeated the ruling party candidate in the
Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency.
https://www.hindustantimes.com
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?