Mayor blames BJP for death of cop in Basirhat

Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Firhad Hakim on Sunday held the BJP responsible for the death of a police personnel that had took place at a village in Sandeshkhali area of Basirhat in North 24-Parganas on Saturday.

Biswajit Maiti, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Three policemen, including a sub-inspector, who also received bullet injuries during the incident, are fighting for their lives at a private hospital in the city.

Hakim said the accused persons have links with the BJP.

"The assailants had once been associated with the CPIM, who later switched their political allegiance to the BJP. Good people are not joining the BJP and hence its leaders are keen on inducting criminals. The BJP is giving shelters to the criminals. The police administrations will take stringent measure against those who are involved in the incident," Hakim said.

Family members of Maiti demanded stringent steps against the culprits. The incident took place following a clash between the police and local anti-socials at Sandeshkhali on Saturday morning.

The police arrested two persons — Kedar Sardar and Laltu Sardar — for their involvement in the incident on Saturday.

A police team from Sandeshkhali police station reached the spot on Friday night after they heard criminals had gathered in the neighbourhood of Fullara crematorium area. The miscreants opened fire seeing the policemen.

A large contingent of policemen reached the spot and rescued the victims. All the injured victims were taken to the hospital where Maiti succumbed to injuries late on Saturday evening.

The incident triggered a political slugfest between the BJP and Trinamool Congress with the Trinamool Congress North 24-Parganas district president Jyotipriya Mallick on Saturday claiming the miscreants to be BJP activists. The BJP leaders on the other hand denied the allegation and blamed Trinamool Congress for the incident.