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2 dead, 11 injured in Bhatpara clashes; TMC, BJP trade barbs

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Press Trust of India Kolkata
Last Updated : Jun 20 2019 | 11:20 PM IST

Two people were killed and 11 others injured Thursday after clashes broke out between two groups suspected to be affiliated to the TMC and the BJP in Bhatpara area of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, police said.

The authorities have imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in and around the area following the violence.

The ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP blamed each other for the clash, which is seen as an attempt to establish dominance in Bhatpara, which comes under the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed senior police officers to take stringent action against those involved in the incident "irrespective of their political colour", state government sources said.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the clash, a police officer said.

The state government has removed Barrackpore Police Commissioner Tanmay Ray Chaudhuri and appointed Manoj Kumar Verma, who was the IGP of Darjeeling.

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Of the 11 injured, six were police personnel who suffered injuries while trying to contain the violence, Director General of Police Virendra said after visiting the spot.

According to reports, bombs were hurled and several rounds of bullets fired in the air by members of the two warring groups near the newly-constructed Bhatpara Police Station, which was made operational earlier in the day.

Several country-made bombs and revolvers had been recovered from the area, police said.

"Some anti-socials and criminals have been active in Bhatpara. Outside elements have now joined them, disrupting peace in the area. RAF personnel have been deployed," Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

The administration has taken a serious note of the situation in certain areas under the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, including Bhatpara, he said.

"The state government requests all concerned to avoid and resist from making inflammatory statements... in the context of the situation in Jagatdal and Bhatpara areas. We request all to cooperate and not get provocated by exciting propaganda from any side," Bandyopadhyay said.

Asked whether the deaths were because of police firing, as alleged by the locals, the DG said, "The cause of the deaths is under investigation. Police fired in the air."

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First Published: Jun 20 2019 | 11:20 PM IST

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