Kolkata | Authorities on Thursday imposed Section 144 in Bhatpara and Jagatdal areas of North 24 Parganas district, following clashes between two groups that left one dead and three injured.
According to reports, bombs were hurled and several rounds of bullets fired in the air by the members of the two warring groups near the newly-constructed Bhatpara Police Station, which was inaugurated by the home secretary earlier in the day.
The clashes started around 10:30 am and the roads turned empty in no time and shopkeepers quickly downed their shutters.
Bhatpura is about 30 kilometres from Kolkata.
“Some anti-socials and criminals have been active in Bhatpara. Outside elements have now joined them, disrupting peace in the area. RAF personnel have been deployed,” Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya blamed the Trinamool government in the state and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the clashes. “Mamata Banerjee has lost her mental balance since the Lok Sabha elections. Clashes are taking place all over the state. I have got information that two people fell to police bullets,” he said.
Vijayvargiya also said that a report will be sent to the Centre.
The West Bengal government has taken a serious note of the situation in certain areas under the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, including Bhatpara, which has witnessed a series of clashes since May 19, when bypoll was held in the Assembly constituency.
ADG South Bengal Sanjay Singh has been given particular charge of the Barrackpore Commissionerate, the senior state government official said.
A former Trinamool Congress minister has blamed Barrackpore BJP Lok Sabha MP Arjun Singh for the clashes.
“Arjun Singh and his followers are indulging in politics of violence. If the situation does not improve in 24 hours, the toughest measures need to be adopted,” he said.
DG Virendra has also been asked to rush to Bhatpara, Bandyopadhyay added.
The deceased has been identified as Rambabu Shaw, while the details of those injured in the incident were yet to be ascertained, a police officer said.
(With PTI inputs)
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