2 injured after police opens fire in Bengal

After the Central paramilitary forces’ shooting which claimed four lives at Shitalkuchi in Coochbehar in the fourth phase of Assembly election in West Bengal, now the state police also opened fire which left two persons injured during the sixth phase of polls in the state on Thursday.

In the afternoon at Ronghat area in Bagda constituency of North 24 Parganas, a group of around 100 BJP workers allegedly attacked the cops with sharp weapons, including Daah for removing their temporary camp office near booth no 35 following a complaint by the Trinamul Congress.

Officer-in-charge of the Bagda police station Utpal Saha and a constable were injured. To disperse the violent mob, the police, according to the Election Commission, resorted to lathicharge which however went in vain. The cops then opened fire. Two villagers — Mrityunjay Santra and Budho Santra — suffered bullet injuries.

Mrityunjay said, “I was returning home from the market. Suddenly a bullet, fired by the police, hit my hand.” Bagda BJP candidate Bishwajit Das alleged, “The police was not impartial today. It tried to work at the behest of the ruling party.”

Earlier at Ashoknagar of the same district the central forces reportedly opened fire again leaving a villager: Sheikh Shahjahan injured when he was returning home after casting his vote.