Bhatpara residents 'living in fear', meet DGP

Kolkata: Some people hailing from Bhatpara in North 24-Parganas met the Director General of Police, Virendra, at Nabanna on Monday with an allegation that BJP-backed goons were preventing them from entering their residential area.

"We are continuously living in fear. Goons are moving about in our area in the night with firearms and we have been getting threat calls. We need protection as situation is so hostile that we have not been able to go to the local police station to lodge a complaint," said Kartick Nath, a Bhatpara resident.

He said some 500 people of the area were unable to return to their homes due to threats and intimidations of BJP activists.

Nath was accompanied by Mayor Firhad Hakim and state Food Minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is also the TMC's district president of North 24-Parganas.

Nath said minister Firhad Hakim has arranged for their accommodation in Chetla and they will be living there for some days. "DG has assured us that within a few days he will take measures so that we can live in our residences safely," he added.

Chandan Shaw, 24, was shot dead in North 24-Parganas by unidentified assailants on Sunday night while he was driving a two-wheeler. The murder created tension leading to the deployment of security forces in the area.

Meanwhile, despite four days have passed since poll results, political clashes continue across the state. In several districts, almost every day Trinamool and BJP workers are attacking each other. But both the parties have denied the allegations and accused their rivals.

On Sunday night, a Trinamool worker was allegedly attacked by some BJP-backed goons at Pundipari in Cooch Behar.

The Trinamool worker, identified as Prasenjit Biswasharma, was returning home when he was intercepted by some miscreants. It is alleged that one of them shot a round of bullet which hit Biswasharma's leg. As soon as he hit the ground, miscreants fled. Hearing him scream, local residents rushed Biswasharma to Cooch Behar hospital where he is at present under treatment.Apart from Cooch Behar, Trinamool workers at Onda in Bankura were allegedly attacked by BJP workers on Sunday night. According to sources, on Sunday night, the BJP had organised a rally to celebrate their victory. When the rally was passing through the Bikrampur village, some BJP workers allegedly pelted stones on the houses that belonged to Trinamool workers.

Later, BJP workers allegedly assaulted family members of those Trinamool workers and threatened to kill them. But, the BJP has denied the charges. Though Trinamool leaders are blaming the BJP, the saffron party workers are alleging that Trinamool workers are attacking their supporters. It is alleged that during a rally by the BJP workers, a Trinamool-backed goon shot a round of bullet. Though none was hurt, BJP workers got panic stricken. Later, police intervened and brought the situation under control. A complaint has been lodged but none could be arrested. On Monday morning, BJP and Trinamool workers got involved in a clash at Duttabad in Salt Lake. BJP workers alleged that Trinamool attacked them but Trinamool leaders denied the allegations.