Post-poll violence in Bengal leaves 4 dead, dozens injured

KOLKATA: The assembly canvass verdict successful Bengal triggered a spiral of unit crossed the state, leaving astatine slightest 4 radical dead, dozens injured and enactment offices ransacked, arsenic rival cadres from Trinamool Congress and BJP clashed successful aggregate districts overnight.

Two deaths were reported successful Kolkata wrong 24 hours. In Beleghata, Trinamool canvass cause Biswajit Pattanaik, 45, was recovered bleeding astatine his doorstep aft stepping retired pursuing a telephone call. Police fishy helium was chased, tried to fly crossed rooftops and fell, though his household alleges helium was dragged retired and beaten. “They broke the doorway and assaulted him mercilessly. Neighbours were excessively frightened to help,” a comparative said.

A execution probe is underway. BJP denied immoderate role. “He fell connected a tap. It broke and washed distant his blood. That’s wherefore household did not spot humor astatine the spot, though helium was bleeding from his chemoreceptor and ears,” a policeman said. The sidesplitting revived memories of the 2021 post-poll execution of BJP idiosyncratic Abhijit Sarkar successful the aforesaid locality, a lawsuit present nether CBI probe. CBI named 20 suspects, including erstwhile Trinamool MLA Paresh Pal, successful supplementary chargesheets, starring to arrests and judicial custody of adjacent constabulary officers successful 2025.

Hours aboriginal successful New Town, astir 12km northeast of the metropolis centre, BJP idiosyncratic Madhu Mondal, 46, died aft a clash with Trinamool Congress supporters.

Police said helium was pushed and kicked during a confrontation implicit power of a enactment office. He collapsed and was declared dormant astatine hospital. The accused fled arsenic tensions flared, triggering vandalism of his home. Violence dispersed rapidly crossed Kolkata. Party offices were attacked, flags torn down and vehicles damaged from Behala to Kalighat and Shyampukur.

In CM Mamata Banerjee’s Bhowanipur constituency, a councillor’s bureau was breached into and acceptable ablaze. Across respective wards, TMC offices were seized oregon defaced, with BJP flags hoisted. At University of Calcutta successful College Street, clashes erupted arsenic posters were torn down and pupil activists assaulted, leaving respective injured. Rival groups traded blame. Police said the concern was “under control” and warned against misinformation online. Beyond the superior city, the unit chopped a wider swathe. In Udaynarayanpur, astir 35km southwest of Kolkata, BJP activistic Jadav Bar, 45, was allegedly lynched. Police arrested 4 suspects, citing a imaginable idiosyncratic quality portion probing governmental motives. Central forces person been deployed. In Nanoor, astir 160km northwest of Kolkata, TMC idiosyncratic Abir Sheikh, 45, was hacked to death. His household blamed BJP cadres. BJP rejected the charge, calling it factional rivalry. Fresh clashes were besides reported successful Jalpaiguri.