Bishalgarh tense after clash among supporters of BJP and Congress, 4 injured

At least four persons including three firefighters and a police persons suffered injuries after a bit-battle erupted among the supporters of ruling BJP and opposition Congress on Wednesday afternoon at Raoutkhela area of Bishalgarh subdivision during a political programme.

Soon after the clash, rival supporters had also hurled crude bombs, set fire in a Congress office and police to disperse supporters of both parties fire four tear gas cells and resorted mild lath-charge Agitated supporters had also ransacked a firefighting vehicle. Congress alleged that a leader of BJP’s Bishalgarh Mandal fired three round targeting Congress workers.

Police sources said that soon after the clash erupted, large number of security forces led by senior police officials of the district rushed to the spot and during clash one of the Congress worker identified as Sikhandhar Ali suffered critical head injuries and he was shifted GB Hospital, while two firefighters and a police person had also suffered injuries and were shifted to local hospital.

Sources said that on Wednesday afternoon, the opposition Congress had to inaugurate a party office in Routhkhela and to organize a joining programme. When they were supposed to start their programme, a large number of youths owing allegiance to the ruling BJP arrived at the spots with sticks, clubs and with other lethal weapons and started an attack targeting Congress workers. They also set fire at the newly constructed Congress party office. Then, supporters of both parties engaged themselves with pitch-battle.

Speaking with media persons Congress leader Joydeb Barman alleged that miscreants of BJP led by Bishalgarh Mandal president Sushanta Deb without any provocation started ransacking their party decorations and attacked on their workers. He also alleged that after setting fire on their party office, two nearby shops also ransacked and fired 3 rounds targeting Congress workers. He said that one of their party supporters Sikhandar Ali suffered grievous injuries and he was shifted to GB Hospital.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Bishalgarh Mandal president Sushanta Deb ruled out any firing incident and claimed that their party workers were busy with decoration in the By-Pass road for the proposed visit of Union Minister of State Pratima Bhowmik on November 6th next. In the meantime, some Congress workers attacked their party workers and ransacked all of their party decorations.

Considering the situation, a large number of security forces immediately deployed at the spot and police to disperse them had also resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas cells.

Police added that protesting alleged attacks on them by BJP workers, agitated Congress workers had also blockaded the By-Pass road and after an hour, police cleared the road.

AIG(Police Control) Jyotishman Das Chwodhury said that a large number of security forces were deployed in the entire Routkhela area to defuse the escalating tension. He said that the situation is under control and both parties had also filed FIR and counter FIRs alleging each other for the clash.