Eleven killed, 100 houses set afire in Bengal clash

Eleven killed, 100 houses set afire in Bengal clash
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

MIDNAPORE, MAY 21: At least 11 persons were killed, 79 injured and hundred houses torched in a series of clashes between CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress supporters in different districts of West Bengal since Saturday night.

Police said Keshpur area of Midnapore district bore the brunt of the violence claiming 11 lives. Nine persons were killed today and two last night.

The clash began in a paddyfield between Gopinathbati and Kalagram villages under Keshpur police station area claiming lives of nine Trinamool and two CPI(M) supporters. Fifty-nine persons were also injured. All were hospitalised. Besides, 170 houses were looted and 100 houses set on fire, the police said.

About 3,000 persons were involved in the clash, in which guns, sharp weapons, bows and arrows were used freely.

The clashes later spread to Palanpur, Majurhati and Baghinichak villages.

Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) staged a flagmarch in the area, the police said.

Twenty persons incluidng a policeman were injured during a clash between the two parties at Khanakul in Hooghly district today, police said.

Congress candidate for the June-5 by-election to Panskura Lok Sabha constituency Subhankar Sarkar along with some party leaders has started an indefinite fast in front of Midnapore collectorate in protest against the continuing violence in the area.

Sarkar demanded postponement of the election till normalcy was restored in the area.

CPI(M) district committee member and in-charge of Keshpur for the party, Manik Sengupta alleged that the police had failed to control the situation.

Trinamool Congress policy-making body chairman Pankaj Banerjee charged CPI(M) with creating a reign of terror in the area with the help of government machinery.

Stating that the situation there was going from bad to worse, he said that Trinamool Congress would move the Election Commission tomorrow.

The Hooghly violence followed wresting a panchayat seat by Trinamool Congress from CPI(M) in a by-elction at Bolpoi.

District SP Ramesh Basu said police fired four rounds in the air to disperse the mob.