Life in Bhatpara limps back to normalcy

Kolkata: The police urged people through public address system on Tuesday to maintain cool and not to resort to violence at Bhatpara, following days of clashes and incidents of vandalisation on Monday by BJP supporters.

Prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC has been promulgated in the area after BJP supporters went on a

rampage at Bhatpara Municipality and an adjacent hospital run by the civic body on Monday.

Local people had blocked the railway track to protest against the highhandedness of police on Monday, while the police had conducted raids to arrest the criminals involved in Monday's incident.

Life in Bhatpara was seen limping back to normalcy on Tuesday with traders opening some shops. Bus services were restored and classes were held in some schools, even though the percentage of students present in the schools was not very high.

Police pickets have been posted to maintain peace. The banks and other financial institutions functioned normally as well.

Jyotipriya Mallick, state Food minister and North 24-Parganas district president of Trinamool Congress, alleged that BJP is trying to create panic in the area to establish its control.

"BJP supporters had hurled bombs on Monday just to create panic among the local residents. But this will not help them win the 2021 election, as people are watching their vandalism," he added.

Bhatpara, a peaceful hamlet in North 24-Parganas, has witnessed violence since BJP candidate Arjun Singh won the Lok Sabha election, the results of which had been declared on May 23. Since then, clashes between Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters have become quite frequent.

The police had gunned down an anti-social for self defense on Friday, while the bullet-ridden body of another anti-social was recovered from the area on Thursday night.