Demonstrators scuffle with police, 6 injured

At least six persons, including four policemen, were injured in a scuffle between demonstrators belonging to All Bengal Electricity Consumers' Association (ABECA) and the police near the State Secretariat 'Nabanna' here.
Police said ABECA demonstrators assembled in groups near Mandirtala area as part of their programme to march towards 'Nabanna' protesting against hike in power tariff and demanding its immediate reduction.
The scuffle ensued when policemen stopped them a little distance away from the state secretariat, the police said.
Even as the demonstrators claimed that the police baton charged them in which two persons sustained injuries. The police, however, denied that there was any baton charge.

One of the two injured with serious head injury was later hospitalised, the police said, adding four policemen also suffered minor injury in the scuffle.
The situation was controlled after additional forces were brought to the scene.

Later, a five-member delegation of the ABECA submitted a memorandum to the office of Chief Minister on their 12-point demands including reduction in power tariff.
Condemning the "police action", the ABECA General Secretary Pradyut Chowdhury demanded 50 per cent reduction in power tariff or equal amount of power subsidy to consumers.
Chowdhury also demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fulfil her assurance of reducing power tariff.