Three political workers, including two from the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) and one from the Trinamool Congress, were killed in a clashbetween the supporters of the two parties in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganasdistrict, on Saturday, police said.
However, the BJP claimed five of its workers were killed,while Trinamool leaders claimed that three of their workers were murdered inthe clash in the Hatgachi area under Najat police station of SandeshkhaliAssembly constituency. Hatgachi is about 84 kilometers from Kolkata.
BJP leader Mukul Roy called on Union Home Minister Amit Shahon Saturday night and apprised him of the situation. “A team of BJP MPswill visit the area on Sunday and submit a report to Shah,” she said.
“Three political workers – two of them from the BJP andanother from Trinamool – were killed,” said a police officer.
State BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu claimed three ofits leaders – Pradip Mondal, Tapan Mondal and Sukanta Mondal – were killed andfive other functionaries injured in the clash.
BJP state General Secretary (organisation) SubrataChattopadhyay said a fourth BJP worker Debabrata Mondal also died of bulletinjury, while 18 other villagers were missing. Later, another injured BJPworker Shankar Mondal’s body was found.
The Trinamool said while its worker Qayum Mollah was stabbedto death, two others were thrown into the water.
According to the BJP leaders, the clash erupted afterTrinamool workers allegedly removed the saffron party’s flags in Sandeshkhaliarea, while local Trinamool leaders accused the BJP workers of defacing theirflags.
“During a booth level meeting of our workers inHatgachhi, some miscreants, backed by the BJP, attacked them. Mollah, a26-year-old Trinamool worker, was taken out of the party office and stabbed todeath,” state Minister and Trinamool’s district President JyotipriyaMallick claimed.
“Two other workers were thrown into the river. EighteenTrinamool workers, including six women, are injured, he said. I would like toask the BJP whether we don’t even have the right to hold a meeting.
A large posse of police personnel, including those from theRapid Action Force, have been rushed to the spot.
Union minister and BJP leader Babul Supriyo in a tweet saidhe was ‘deeply disturbed’ about the murders of BJP functionaries.
“The people of West Bengal will very soon put an end toTMC’s atrocities,” said Supriyo.
Mukul Roy held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “directlyresponsible” for “unleashing violence against the BJP workers”.