Clashes that began between two groups in Park Circus and Topsia areas in the eastern part of the city late on Thursday night erupted again on Friday evening with the mob going on a rampage and ransacking two buses. The RAF has been deployed in a large number in the area but the situation remained tense till Friday night.

According to the police, trouble broke out on Thursday evening at Rammohan Bera Lane of Topsia after a group asked another group to lower the volume of the music played during the immersion of Jagadhatri idols. After the second group refused to do so, an altercation started between the two groups. “The altercation turned into a violent clash later,” said a police officer.

The police force rushed in and separated the two groups. But this infuriated a particular group which then began to attack the deployed security personnel.

Soon a mob gathered and started pelting stones till early Friday morning. The irate mob also set a car on fire and ransacked a few vehicles stationed near Park Circus and in front of Calcutta Medical College. Teams of RAF and police had to lob tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

Several policemen, including a senior officer, were also heckled by the mob. Kolkata Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti visited the spot on Friday along with other senior officers.

The trouble again broke out on Friday afternoon and two buses were ransacked. Thousands of people from either group gathered near the spot. This time, the police managed to quickly bring the situation under control. “Police pickets have been set up and an additional force has been deployed to prevent further problem,” said Javed Shamim, Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).