Bhatpara on the boil, Section 144 imposed

Kolkata: Violence continues unabated in Bhatpara Assembly constituency despite Section 144 CrPC has been imposed here.

Following Monday's blockade at Kankinara station, again on Tuesday a blockade was put up on the railway tracks and crude bombs were reportedly hurled at a local train at the Kankinara railway station. According to a spokesperson of Eastern Railway, on Tuesday, around 8:43 am, a group of people put up a blockade near Kankinara railway station.

As a result, several trains of Sealdah-Naihati section had to be stopped at various stations.

A Down Naihati local was also stopped at the Kankinara railway station. According to eyewitnesses, when commuters were waiting for the blockade to be withdrawn, some miscreants reportedly hurled bombs and pelted stones targeting the Naihati

local.

Passengers of the train got afraid and while they were hurrying to move to a safe place some of them fell down and suffered minor injuries.

However, the police and railway officials said no one was hurt in the incident.

At first, Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel reached the spot to remove the blockade and ensure security of the passengers.

However, as there were numerous people who had put up the road blockade, security personnel failed to bring the situation under control. Later, GRP and RPF were assisted by a contingent of Barrackpore Police, which forced the agitators to withdraw the blockade.

Fourteen local trains had to be cancelled and 17 local trains and three Mail/Express trains ran late. Seven local trains were terminated short of destination.

Around 12:05 pm, the blockade was withdrawn and normal train services resumed.

"During the agitation, Eastern Railway maintained services up to Barrackpore on the up line and up to Naihati on down direction," said an ER spokesperson.

K. Kannan, Deputy Commissioner (Barrackpore) of Barrackpore police said they had assisted GRP and RPF to lift the blockade.

As the area falls under GRP jurisdiction where problem occurred, GRP is initiating a case. Ashesh Biswas, Superintendent of Railway Police (SRP), Sealdah said: "A memo from Eastern Railway has been received. A case will be lodged. No one was injured."

On Monday, workers from the BJP and the Trinamool clashed after crude bombs were hurled and bullets were fired in various areas of the Bhatpara Assembly constituency on Sunday night.

Later, police initiated two suo moto

FIRs and arrested 34 persons for alleged rioting.

According to the instruction by the Election Commission Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed in Bhatpara area on Monday. Since Sunday night, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Combat Force along with Central Forces were deputed in the area, to maintain law and order.