Several people injured in clash over football match

Several persons including a few policemen were injured when two groups of people clashed over a football match in Maniktala area here following which around 28 people, including six women, were arrested today for their alleged involvement in the clash.
Several persons including a few policemen were injured in the clash last night over a football match played earlier in which stones were pelted and acid-bottles thrown.
A team of police from Manicktala police station reached the place and the situation was brought under control, a police officer said.
This morning persons belonging to two localities in the Maniktola area clashed again, following which teams of Kolkata Police, RAF, Railway Police Force (RPF) were deployed there to bring the situation under control, he said.

However, as people belonging to both the localities, situated on two flanks of a railway track passing through the area, started throwing stones at the policemen. The policemen then made a lathicharge to bring the situation under control, the officer said.
Train services in the Sealdah North division were affected and a few trains stranded for around 30 minutes at the Bidhannagar Railway station after the mob threw stones at passing trains, the senior officer said.

Terming the clash as a "political one", Deputy Commissioner of Police, Eastern Suburban Division (ESD) Debasmita Das said, "It's basically a fight between locals of two paras (neighbourhood) which was sorted out."

The CPI(M) alleged the the clash was a result of infighting between two groups of TMC leaders.
Meanwhile, local TMC MLA and state minister Sadhan Pande denied involvement of TMC leaders whose names have cropped up as being involved in the clash.
"The TMC has no link to the clash in Maniktala incident.