Two persons died and five others were injured during a pitched battle between two groups on Thursday in Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas districts, 30 km from Kolkata.
The deceased were identified as Rambabu Shaw and Dharamveer Shaw. Five injured persons who have been admitted to a local hospital sustained injuries from bombs and firearms. Local parliamentarian Arjun Singh alleged that the deaths were caused in police firing, but the police denied this.
Local people reported that there sounds of firing and hurling of crude bombs as some groups were fighting a pitched battle. In fact, Bhatpara has been on the boil from the time Trinamool Congress’ lawmaker from the area — Arjun Singh — joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha polls on being denied a party ticket. He was later fielded by the BJP from Barrackpore and he went on to win it.
Since May 23, when election results were announced, there have been small and big incidents of clashes reported from the area.
But on Thursday, the conflict reached a flashpoint prior to the inauguration of a new police station in the area. Director General of Police, Virendra, had to return without attending the programme and the situation turned so tense, that the state had to postpone the event. The police station however, was made functional.
Police resorted to lathicharge, used tear gas shells, and a large contingent of specialised force began camping in the area. Shops downed shutters and people feared to venture onto the streets. Section 144 was imposed in the area. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee called an urgent meeting at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters. After the meeting, home secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay said that IPS officer Sanjay Singh had been assigned charge of the area and he was rushing there immediately. “Section 144 has been imposed and normalcy will be restored in the area soon,” Bandopadhay said. The DGP decided to visit the area too.
The BJP leadership took note of the developments and decided to send a team to Bhatpara tomorrow, who would compile a ground report and submit it to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Banerjee had faced a group of people chanting “Jai Shree Ram” as she was on her way to Bhatpara a few weeks back. Later, her party colleagues faced a similar experience. Banerjee has asked her party colleagues to instill confidence among people and alleged that the BJP was trying to create tension in the area, but not much seemed to have worked so far in the Trinamool Congress’ favour.
