The Girish Park area in Kolkata turned tense on Saturday, the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive public rally at the Brigade Parade Ground. Clashes broke out between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, creating a situation that resembled a battlefield in parts of the locality.
Police said vandalism was also carried out at the residence of state minister Shashi Panja during the unrest. According to Kolkata Police, nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident.
Both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP lodged complaints at the local police station on Saturday night. The BJP has also filed a complaint against Minister Shashi Panja. Police officials said action will be taken according to the law after examining the complaints.
Police personnel injured during clash
Police personnel also came under attack while trying to restore law and order during the clash between the two political parties. Several officers were injured in the violence.
Bowbazar police station Officer-in-Charge Bappaditya Naskar was among those wounded. A total of eight injured police personnel were admitted to the hospital, out of which six have been discharged. Two officers are still undergoing treatment.
Trinamool alleges BJP workers attacked first
Trinamool Congress leaders claimed that BJP workers travelling to the Brigade rally got down from buses near the minister’s residence and began tearing banners placed in front of the house.
According to the ruling party, BJP workers allegedly started throwing bricks and stones when party members protested. Trinamool also alleged that several of its workers were assaulted during the confrontation.
Party leaders claimed that even women were not spared in the attack.
BJP denies allegation, blames Trinamool
Rejecting the accusations, the BJP alleged that Trinamool workers were the ones who initiated the violence.
According to the BJP, stones were thrown targeting buses carrying party workers heading towards the Brigade rally, forcing some of them to step down and defend themselves.
Shashi Panja accuses BJP of violence
Speaking at a press conference, state minister Shashi Panja accused the BJP of deliberately provoking violence.
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She alleged that the BJP is nurturing goons and killers. Her Trinamool colleagues were putting up flex banners in front of my house. BJP workers got down from the bus, tore the flex and beat up her colleagues. When they protested, they hit them with bricks. There was a plan to kill, she said.
Sukanta Majumdar counters claims
The Bengal BJP strongly rejected the allegations. Union Minister of State and MP Sukanta Majumdar released videos and accused Trinamool workers of attacking BJP supporters.
Majumdar said that the BJP bus was attacked. Every councillor was involved, and Shashi Panja was leading them. Police cars were stopped. There was an attempt to prevent people from going to the rally. The people of Bengal are not so foolish, he added.
