CPI(M), Trinamool workers clash in South 24 Parganas

Trouble arose when the CPI(M) workers who were to hold a protest rally at Alipore were going past Bamunghata in vehicles where the Trinamool Congress was holding a meeting, Superintendent of Police Pravin Tripathy said.

The CPI(M) workers got off from the vehicles at Jalpath, a kilometre away, and marched back to Bamunghata in a procession after provocative comments were allegedly passed against them from the meeting being held there by the TMC, police sources said.

Heated words between the TMC and CPI(M) workers followed leading to clashes, with the two parties opening fire, the sources said.

Tripathy said that five to six persons were injured in the clashes, with one person suffering bullet injury.

He said that 10 vehicles were damaged, of which seven were set on fire.

He said that 16 persons were arrested after the clash.

Police pickets were posted at Bamunghata and in the different places under Bhangor police station area in view of tension, the SP said.

Trinamool Congress local leader Abu Taher Sarder claimed that three partymen suffered bullet injuries, while senior CPI(M) leader Surya Kanta Mishra claimed that five of his partymen had suffered bullet injuries.

TMC leader Arabul Islam, accused by the CPI(M) of leading an attack against its leader and former minister Rezzak Mollah on Sunday, alleged that his car was fired at allegedly by Marxist workers who tried to kill him as a result of which he fell off and was subsequently rescued by party workers.

"Ten of our party workers were injured and local party leader Arabul Islam was attacked with arms by CPI(M) workers and had to be hospitalised, while several cars were damaged," Industry minister Partha Chatterjee alleged at the state secretariat.

Chatterjee said that in protest against the violence, the Trinamool Congress would take out processions between January 10 and 18 at 6:00 pm every day in Kolkata. (MORE)