Three more killed over Bengal panchayat board formation
Violence continued over the formation of panchayat boards in Bengal with three persons being killed in clashes in two districts of the state, pushing the death toll to four since August 25.
On Monday, two persons were killed in Manikchak of Malda district, while another lost his life in Raghunathpur of Purulia.
Clashes were also reported from North 24 Parganas (Deganga), North Dinajpur (Chopra), Jalpaiguri (Falakata) and Howrah districts. In Kolkata,
Bharatiya Janata Party Bengal general secretary Sayantan Basu said they apprehended that violence will increase in the next few days when boards will be formed.
Salam Sheikh (34) and Azhar Sheikh (64), both residents of Gopalpur-Hukumattola area in Malda, about 345 km to the north of Kolkata, were killed when clashes broke out allegedly between two factions of ruling Trinamool Congress.
Niranjan Gope, a BJP worker, was killed when workers fought TMC supporters in Khajura village of Ghagra gram panchayat in Jaypur of Purulia district, about 276 km to the west of Kolkata.
“Our worker, Niranjan Gope, died on the spot as bullets hit him when police and TMC men fired. More than 10 were injured, some of them critically,” alleged Bidyasagar Charaborty, Purulia district BJP president. Trouble started over submission of caste certificates on Monday, alleged locals.
Purulia police superintendent Akash Magharia did not take calls. Shantiram Mahato, district Trinamool Congress president claimed, “None of our party is involved. It is the handiwork of the BJP. Several outsiders including some were brought from Jharkhand to create trouble.” Mahato said he knew of none falling to police firing.
In Saturi of Purulia district an assistant sub inspector of police was injured when he was hit by a brick.
In a cabinet meeting on Monday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked her ministers to ensure there is no trouble in their respective districts over the formation of panchayat boards. A key task of setting up the boards involves the election of pradhan and upa-pradhan from the elected members to run the affairs of the panchayat.
Even as clashes were reported allegedly between factions of TMC, Malda district president of Congress, Mausam Benazir Noor instructed her partymen in the district to support the ruling party in the 146 gram panchayats that are hung in Malda.
Malda police superintendent Arnab Ghosh visited the spot but refuse comment. Police arrested three persons in connection with the incident.
Malda district TMC working president, Babla Sarkar alleged, “Led by local Congress MLA Md Mottakin Alam, some goons encircled the gram panchayat office from Monday early morning so that TMC members can’t reach the spot for forming the board. When our supporters tried to force their way, the Congressbacked goons started hurling bombs. They also used firearms. Two of our workers were killed.”
”I am in Kolkata today. How could I lead the attack...,” said Congress MLA of Manikchak, Md Mottakin Alam.
BERHAMPORE/MIDNAPORE: