Clashes, firing, vandalism rock West Bengal, BJP calls for calm

KOLKATA: Post-election flareups across Bengal triggered clashes, firing and vandalism from Kolkata to its northern fringes, prompting BJP brass to call for restraint and direct its cadre to restore calm on the ground.

The most serious confrontation came from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, roughly 75km northeast of Kolkata, where a clash between Trinamool and BJP supporters over control of a bheri (fish pond) left three policemen and two CRPF personnel wounded by gunfire. Police said armed groups converged near the fishery around 10.30pm Tuesday.





Officers and central forces responding to a tip-off were caught in crossfire. The region, once a Trinamool stronghold, saw BJP’s Sanat Sardar win the seat in the assembly polls. Tension gripped TopsiaTiljala in east Kolkata after allegations that miscreants abused and assaulted local women led to a two-and-ahalf-hour standoff late Tuesday.

Kolkata police commissioner Ajay Nand said two cases were registered, 40 accused were arrested and additional forces deployed. Elsewhere in the city, a statue of former Trinamool functionary Sadhan Pande was vandalised in Maniktala. In neighbouring Howrah, a Trinamool functionary and Mohun Bagan Club official was allegedly assaulted. BJP rejected allegations in both cases. The BJP brass in New Delhi issued instructions to all its candidates — winners and losers — to return to their constituencies and prevent violence.

The party also moved to purge recent defectors accused of importing Trinamool-style strong-arm tactics. “There are some neo-BJPs who have just joined from Trinamool. They will be thrown out. We will not allow that culture to tarnish BJP,” state president Samik Bhattacharya sai. Senior BJP politicians held meetings with state police brass in Kolkata, seeking strict action against offenders.

On the ground, several BJP MLAs attempted damage control. In north Kolkata’s Baranagar, Sajal Ghosh intervened after a Trinamool office was vandalised.In Nandigram, BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari warned party workers against taking the law into their own hands. “If our members do that, what difference will remain between BJP and Trinamool?” he said.