West Bengal: 16-yr-old shot as post-poll violence rocks Bhatpara

KOLKATA: Hours after phase 6 polling passed off peacefully, a16-year-old boy was shot by bike-borne miscreants in Bhatpara, North 24 Parganas, on Thursday night. On Friday, several people were injured in a bombing in Jagaddal.
According to local sources, Raja Chowdhury was taking a post-dinner walk around 11.30pm near his home in Goli no. 2, close to Kankinara Bazar, along with friends when he was attacked.
“Two youths came on a motorbike, opened fire and fled the spot. The boys scattered in panic and ran for cover. But Raja was struck in the head by a bullet and slumped to the ground, bleeding profusely,” a neighbour said. He was rushed to Bhatpara State General Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
“Raja was a Class IX dropout. But he was an innocent boy and wasn’t associated with any political party. He used to take a walk after dinner and chatted with friends. But he had to pay with his life in firing by goons who were trying to grab control of the area after elections,” said cousin Samir Chowdhury.
Residents claimed some local miscreants were terrorizing people on poll-eve. “Bhatpara-Kankinara area witnessed several clashes and bombings before polls. Armed goons also unleashed a reign of terror in the area. But ignoring all threats and violence, almost all locals cast their votes, after which goons opened fire to teach people a lesson. An innocent boy, who wasn’t a voter yet, was killed by goons,” a resident said.
Both Trinamool Congress and BJP leaders said that none of their supporters was involved in the attack. Police are investigating if rivalry could have led to the murder. “Preliminarily, we suspect the goons targeted the boy and fired at him from point blank range. A raid is on to nab the culprits,” said a senior officer of Barrackpore Commissionerate.
Post-poll violence erupted in Jagaddal’s Panpur too where at least seven persons suffered severe splinter injuries in bombing after a clash broke out between Trinamool and BJP supporters.