A Day After BJP Surge, Clashes Break Out in Parts of Bengal
Clashes between workers of the ruling TMC and the BJP were reported from Bankura, Cooch Behar and other districts.
Incident of sporadic violence were reported from several parts of West Bengal, only a day after the Lok Sabha elections results were declared, leaving several persons injured.
According to IANS, clashes between workers of the ruling TMC and the BJP, which has recorded a phenomenal surge in the state, were reported from Bankura, Cooch Behar and other districts in West Bengal, police said on Friday, 24 May.
"On Friday, some BJP workers attacked Trinamool Congress block president Kalipada Roy's residence due to which stone-pelting took place between both parties," an officer of Bankura's Saltora police station said.
He said that the condition of a BJP worker who received a head injury is now stable.
Reports of violence also emerged from Barackpre, where BJP leader Arjun Singh won, defeating TMC’s Dinesh Trivedi. According to The Indian Express, several houses and vehicles were damaged in the region, with both parties blaming each other for the incidents.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed in some parts of the region, reported the daily. Speaking to The Indian Express, a police officer said: “Things were under control (during polling on 19 May), but clashes began again after the results were declared. More than a hundred people have been arrested in the area over the last few days.”
Singh, meanwhile, has denied his party’s involvement in the violence, accusing the TMC’s Madan Mitra instead. However, Mitra too as denied Singh’s allegations, calling Singh “a hooligan” in turn.
Meanwhile, incidents of vandalisation of houses and capturing of party offices were reported in Coochbehar's Toofanganj and Mathabahanga. Trinamool workers blamed the BJP, which denied any responsibility.
"Sporadic incidents have been reported after the declaration of results but nothing major occurred," an officer told IANS.
Similar incidents were reported from other places like Jhargram, Titagarh and Saithia.
(With inputs from IANS, Indian Express)
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