MHA seeks report of killings in Bengal's North 24 Parganas
Kolkata, Jun 9 (IBNS): At least three people-one Trinamool Congress activist and two others from the Bharatiya Janata Party-were killed during a violent clash in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Saturday evening, media reports said.
However, unofficial sources put the toll at four in the clash at Nazat in which warring groups indulged in random bombing, firing and brickbatting for hours.
BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said three of its workers were killed and they were identified as Tapan Mondal, Sukanta Mondal and Pradip Mondal.
The clashes took place at Nayjat, which is about 70 km from Kolkata in the Sandeshkhali area, a part of Bashirhat Lok Sabha constituency, around 7 pm.
According to reports, the clashes erupted over removing of party flags from public places in the Hatgacha panchayat areajee
A huge police force was sent to the area to restore peace.
Although the Trinamool Congress won the seat at Hatgacha, the BJP had an initial 144-vote lead over the ruling party.
The TMC worker killed in the incident was identified as 26-year-old Qayum Mollah, who was shot and hacked to death during the clashes.
One of the two deceased from BJP was shot in the left eye.
The three bodies were brought to a hospital in Bashirhat late on Saturday night.
According to reports, the Trinamool was holding a booth-level meeting at a marketplace in Hatgacha when the clashes broke out with BJP workers, who were in the vicinity.
Angry barbs and insulting exchanges between the two groups led to violence ultimately.
BJP's Mukul Roy openly blamed Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the incident and stated that the BJP's state unit will complaint to Home Minister Amit Shah.
3 BJP workers shot dead by TMC goons in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal. @mamataofficial is directly responsible for unleashing violence against BJP workers.
— Mukul Roy (@MukulR_Official) June 8, 2019
We will be reaching Union Home Minister Sh @amitshah ji to apprise him of Sandeshkhali killings.
According to reports, BJP president Amit Shah has already sought a report from the state unit of the party about the incident.
The situation in West Bengal has turned worse in recent times with regular violence being reported from across the state following the results of the Lok Sabha elections.
While the TMC did manage to win with 22 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had a huge entry into the state with 18 of the 42 total seats, just four less than the ruling party.
Mamata Banerjee had earlier skipped PM Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony as a protest to allegations by the BJP that as many as 54 of its workers were killed in political violence across the state in a span of last six years.
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