BJP's victory rally: Cops injured in clashes

Kolkata: BJP supporters fought a pitched battle with the police and even damaged their vehicles after they were stopped from holding a victory rally at Gangarampur in South Dinajpur on Saturday afternoon.

The police did not grant permission for the rally and promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC. Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed the police to not allow victory rallies as the BJP workers were creating trouble in the name of holding processions.

The trouble started when senior police officers stopped BJP supporters from holding the rally. Dilip Ghosh, the state BJP president, was also present. Despite requests by senior police officers, Ghosh refused to call off the rally and instructed his party workers to go ahead.

The BJP supporters turned violent and hurled bricks at policemen injuring five of them, including two who have been seriously injured. The injured cops were taken to the hospital where they were treated. To disperse the mob, police used tear gas shells and resorted to lathi-charge.

Condemning the attack on police, Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said BJP leaders were deliberately trying to create trouble in different areas. He said the people of the state are watching everything and they will give a befitting reply in due course. He urged Dilip Ghosh not to carry out such rallies which are organised to create trouble.

Firhad Hakim stated that the BJP leaders were inciting their workers who are attacking policemen and damaging their vehicles.

"We did not carry out victory rallies after coming to power in 2011 or later in 2016," he said and added: "BJP is trying to destabilise the peace in Bengal by creating trouble. They think that by creating trouble they can impose Article 356 in Bengal. But it is not so easy. The people are watching who are the trouble-makers."