Post-poll fracas rages on in Bhatpara, Madan lodges complaint against BJP

Kolkata: Post-poll violence continued in Bhatpara on Monday, after the area became chaotic on the day of the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections. After the polling process ended on Sunday evening, crude bombs were hurled and bullets were fired in several areas of the Bhatpara Assembly constituency throughout the night.

Both BJP and Trinamool Congress accused each other for the violence in Bhatpara. Madan Mitra, the Trinamool candidate contesting from the Bhatpara constituency, lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP workers on Monday.

Till Monday, police initiated two suo moto FIRs and arrested 34 persons for alleged rioting. Additional Director General (ADG), Law and Order, Siddh Nath Gupta informed that section 144 has been imposed in Bhatpara on Monday.

After the polling process concluded on Sunday, Meghna, Arya Road and Chalta Road areas turned into battlegrounds as workers of both the parties got involved in clashes. It has been alleged that BJP backed goons attacked Trinamool workers and set fire to some of their houses.

Since Sunday night, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Combat Force along with Central Forces were deputed in the area, to maintain law and order.

On Monday, Mitra went to the EC along with Trinamool youth leader Samrat Topadar and lodged a complaint against BJP for allegedly instigating violence in Bhatpara. "On Sunday, Central Forces practically gave protection to the hooligans who had hurled crude bombs targeting my car. Arjun Singh is spreading lies stating that I had instigated violence with the help of outsiders, when he is the person who is creating violence," said Mitra.

Meanwhile, BJP workers and supporters put up a blockade at Kankinara railway station since 7:05 am on Monday morning. As a result, train services were disrupted on the Sealdah-Ranaghat section for almost two and a half hours.

Following this, BJP workers agitated in front of Jagaddal police station, demanding immediate release of the persons arrested. Later, police intervened and forced the BJP workers to withdraw the agitation.

Normal services resumed in the section after 9:13 am. Due to the blockade for such a long time during peak hours, 20 local trains had to be cancelled. Seven Up and four Down local trains had to be short terminated, while 13 local trains ran late. As a result, daily commuters had to face immense harassment.

A RAF personnel was hit by a bullet fired by miscreants on Sunday. The injured person, identified as Raju Dey, was rushed to a private hospital in Mukundapur where he underwent a major surgery on Monday. Several others were also injured in shootouts across the area.

The bullet had entered through the cheek bone on the right side of his face and got stuck under the right ear, next to a crucial nerve. After almost two and half hours of surgery, the bullet was extracted.