Three dead, 20 injured in Garbeta clash

Three persons, including a woman were killed and 20 were injured when a clash broke out between two groups of people following a dispute of a piece of land at Garbeta in West Midnapore on Thursday night.

Police said Alok Mondal, a resident of Uprojoba village, was set on fire during the clash and another resident of the same village, Sera Mullick was beaten to death. The woman Asma Bibi, who received severe injuries to her head when she went to rescue her brother, succumbed to her injuries in Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.

A police officer said that initially, the trouble broke out at Fulmonipur village when a person had refused one of his neighbours from using the land owned by him. Both got engaged into a scuffle.

Local people rushed to the spot to find both of the bleeding profusely. The local people also got divided into two groups and a clash broke out between them as well.

The situation took a worse turn when people from the adjacent village also got involved in fight. Without known the incident behind the trouble properly, they started pelting stones at each other’s houses. Subsequently, they came out with wooden logs, scythe and bamboo sticks. Several houses were ransacked and valuables damaged.

They beat up three persons – Alok Mondal, Sera Mullick and Asma Bibi - mercilessly till they fell unconscious. Some of the accused set Mondal on fire after that.

A large contingent of police was pressed to the spot. Police went to the villages and found several people lying on roads writhing in pain. Police took all of them to Garbeta Rural Hospital and Midnapore District Hospital.

Police pickets have been posted in the area to ensure that the law and order situation do not deteriorate further.