Kids thrashed, 20 injured in BJP-Trinamool clash

TNN | Updated: Jul 15, 2019, 6:44 IST

RAF personnel chase away the hooligans

KOLKATA: At least 20 people were injured as Shahid Smriti Colony at Panchasayar turned into a battlefield on Sunday when the BJP and the Trinamool supporters clashed with each other over a membership drive launched by the BJP. People were dragged out of their homes and severely beaten up, it was alleged. Even children were not spared and locked up inside their homes during the violence that continued for nearly 5 hours.
Both the parties blamed each other for ransacking houses and beating up party workers. Police and RAF were deployed at the spot later in the afternoon.
The trouble started after the Trinamool workers had a heated exchange with BJP activists after the latter launched a membership drive on Sunday morning. The situation turned tense when some TMC workers allegedly beat up the BJP members. A group of BJP workers from nearby areas reached the spot and allegedly started ransacking houses of TMC workers.
"I was sitting at home when the BJP workers barged in and started beating us up. They didn't even spare my kids. Later, they locked us inside and left the spot," said Shampa Mandal (36). Her neighbour Madan Haldar's house was ransacked and the car parked in front of the house damaged. Haldar, who was beaten up severely, was hospitalised.
Till afternoon, there were sporadic clashes in the area. The cops were soon outnumbered and the goons went on the rampage. RAF personnel and teams from nearby police stations reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

"At least eight party workers were severely injured and hospitalised. They were dragged out from the houses and beaten up," said BJP leader Anupam Hazra. After the results were out in 2016 assembly poll, this colony witnessed similar clashes between the TMC and CPM.
TMC councillor Ananya Banerjee, however, held the BJP responsible for the violence. "Every Sunday, they launch a drive to enrol new members. They should at least inform the councillor and police. Instead, they take out bike rallies and intimidate people," she said.