BJP supporters ransack Bhatpara Municipality
Kolkata: Some BJP supporters ransacked Bhatpara Municipality and an adjacent hospital on Monday morning. The police resorted to lathicharge to quell the mob. A massive manhunt is underway to round up those involved in the matter.
Meanwhile, local people blocked the railway track to protest against the high-handedness of police at around 9.15 am at Kankinara railway station, causing great inconvenience to the office-bound passengers as train services on the Barrackpore-Naihati section of Eastern Railway came to a halt. As a result, 20 EMU local trains had to be cancelled, 16 trains ran late and two had to be short terminated.
The obstruction was lifted following the intervention of police at 11.30 pm. When the train services became normal, some people holding BJP flags entered the premises of Bhatpara municipality and ransacked the flower pots.
The mob then went to the hospital situated next to the municipality building and ransacked the reception area. Bombs were also hurled to create panic in the area. The shopkeepers downed the shutters of their establishments. Buses stopped plying and the entire area wore a deserted look within half an hour.
A large contingent of police went to the area and started house-to-house raid to arrest the persons involved in the incident.
State Food minister and North 24-Parganas district president of Trinamool Congress Jyotipriya Mallick held BJP MP Arjun Singh responsible for creating trouble in the area.
"Arjun Singh is giving shelter to the anti-socials who are creating trouble to create panic among the people of the area," he alleged, adding: "People are watching the vandalism by BJP supporters and will take revenge through the ballot."
It may be recalled that the police had opened fire in self-defense and killed a criminal on Friday at Sukiapara in Jagaddal. The body of another anti-social was found at Kaugachi in Jagaddal on Thursday night.
Bhatpara, which used to be a peaceful hamlet, has witnessed violence since the announcement of the results of the general elections on May 23. Arjun Singh, who joined BJP from Trinamool Congress, won the election, since which BJP has unleashed a reign of terror in vast areas surrounding Bhatpara. A Parliamentary team of BJP had visited the area in June.
However, despite BJP's threat, councillors of Kanchrapara Municipality rejoined Trinamool Congress on Saturday. The councillors alleged that they had been taken to Delhi under threat and were forced to join the saffron party.
