Trinamool-BJP Workers Clash, Three Killed

Kolkata: A Trinamool Congress worker and two BJP workers were killed in a clash on Saturday evening in Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district. BJP leaders claim one more party worker is dead and five more are missing.

The clashes at Nayjat, about 70km from Kolkata in the Sandeshkhali area, took place at 7pm over removing of party flags from public places in the Hatgacha panchayat area, reports NDTV.

A huge police force was rushed to the area to maintain calm. But residents said another person was killed in a factional fight within the Trinamool in Hooghly district.

The area where the clashes took place is part of the Bashirhat Lok Sabha seat. The Trinamool Congress won the seat but at Hatgacha, the BJP had a 144-vote lead over the Trinamool.

A 26-year-old Trinamool Congress worker, Qayum Mollah, was shot and hacked to death. BJP workers Pradip Mondal and Sukanta Mondal were also killed, one of them shot in the left eye.

The BJP claims Trinamool workers opened fire while the latter claims the BJP pulled out pistols. The BJP’s Mukul Roy pinned the blame on Trinamool Congress chief and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said the BJP’s state unit has approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Reports said Amit Shah has sought a report from the state unit of the party about the incident.