Clashes between groups over open consumption of alcohol

Repeated clashes since last night between a section of residents of two neighbouring localities at Charu Market left two policemen and some local people injured.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a clash broke out when residents of Jhaldarmath area resisted some youth from the adjoining Dompara area from openly consuming alcohol.

The youth were found sitting on the railway tracks that pass through the area and consuming alcohol. They pelted stones from the railway tracks at people from Jhaldarmath area as the latter were raising their voices against open consumption of alcohol. A resident of Jhaldarmath received injuries on his head as they pelted stones at them and it aggravated the situation.

Hundreds of people from both the localities came out of their houses and it led to repeated clashes among them. They pelted stones and threw empty glass bottles at each other.

A large contingent of police was pressed at the area to bring the situation under control. But the residents of both the areas started pelting more stones finding police entering the area. Two policemen received injuries when they tried to bring the situation under control.

Later, more policemen reached the spot and brought the situation under control on Monday night.

However, tension erupted again in the area on Tuesday morning as some members of both the localities got engaged into a clash. Local people alleged that no police pickets were posted in the area despite trouble on Monday night as a result of which, once again clashes broke out between residents of the neighbouring localities. They once again threw stones at each other.

The situation turned worse when they started attacking some houses in the area. Furniture and valuables in many houses were damaged too.

Policemen from different police stations including Charu Market, Bhowanipore and Tollygunge rushed to the spot. The police had to chase the mob by raising their batons to bring the situation under control. Police arrested some of the accused persons and raids are on in search of others.

Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, the state Power minister and local MLA, went to the spot on Monday morning. Lashing out at the police, Chattopadhyay raised a pertinent question: "Why were the police withdrawn after last night's clash as there was tension in the area? The situation would not have taken a worse turn this morning (Tuesday) if there would have been police posting."

He maintained: "The police hardly take action despite receiving complaints of open consumption of alcohol and gambling on the railway tracks that passes through the area. I have directed the police to take stringent measures in this connection and to arrest everyone behind the incident."