Bombs hurled, homes ransacked in Bengal town

BARRACKPORE: West Bengal’s Bhatpara assembly bypoll on Sunday saw widespread violence during which bombs were hurled, shops and houses ransacked and Trinamool candidate Madan Mitra’s car was vandalised. Unofficially, as many as 14 persons were injured in the violence in the constituency, the home turf of BJP’s Arjun Singh. Police confirmed three injuries and said that the polling process was unaffected.
Singh, who was Bhatpara MLA, contested the LS polls from Barrackpore, necessitating the bypoll which is being fought by his son Pawan as a BJP candidate.
“I had a narrow escape... Singh’s men attempted to kill me but that cannot stop me from protecting my supporters,” Mitra said.
Barrackpore police commissioner rushed to the spot along with a large force, said ADG law & order Siddhinath Gupta. “Three vehicles, including two police cars, were damaged,” Gupta added.
Singh denied Mitra’s allegations and said he was innocent. “I was at my office throughout the day. When I heard some houses were being ransacked by outsiders, I came out to find many locals with splinter injuries and got them to hospital,” he said.