Post-poll clashes in Bengal, 1 dead

Kolkata, May 25

Violent incidents were reported from across West Bengal on Saturday in which a man said to be a BJP supporter was shot and many others were injured, officials said, as a face-off brewed between the ruling Trinamool Congress and a surging BJP after the Lok Sabha results were declared.

“Santu Ghosh was shot outside his home at Chakdaha on Friday night and declared brought dead at a hospital. No one has been arrested so far. Investigation is going on,” an officer of the Chakdaha police station said. Claiming that Ghosh had defected from Trinamool, BJP activists blocked a national highway and railway tracks for about two hours on Saturday, causing major disruption of train services in the Sealdah division.

The TMC alleged that a number of its party offices in various places have either been taken over or vandalised by BJP workers. “Since the results came in, BJP workers have either locked down our party offices or vandalised them or set them on fire,” said TMC’s Sitalkuchi block president Abed Ali Miya.

Police sources said TMC workers were beaten up allegedly by BJP supporters in Coochbehar's Sitai, Titagarh in North 24 Parganas and New Town area near Kolkata.

The BJP, on the other hand, alleged its workers were attacked by TMC activists in the district’s Bakshirkuti area during a victory procession. Though the TMC has denied the allegations, the BJP said its members from the minority community were attacked with sticks and spears.

In Sitai area of the district, the TMC alleged that country-made bombs were hurled at the house of a leader of its women's outfit.

Clashes have also been reported from Bhatpara and Kakinada areas under the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat. There were reports of unrest from Narendrapur area in southern fringes of Kolkata as well.

The reports of violence came even after 200 companies of central forces are present in the state. Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has appealed to maintain peace. Agencies