Two persons were killed in Murshidabad’s Jalangi on Wednesday in a clash between an “anti-NRC” forum enforcing a roadblock on the Karimpur-Behrampore state highway and a group of 30 purported Trinamul leaders and workers from a neighbouring village.
The clash broke out near Sahebnagar village around 10am, more than an hour after police had removed the original picket that had been set up by 100-odd residents of the area under the banner of the Sahebnagar Nagarik Mancha.
Sources in the district administration said the Mancha had called a bandh and primary investigations suggested that local leaders of Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen were behind the clash.
“As the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was not allowed to carry out provocative activities in the area, they set up the Mancha and called a bandh... to create trouble and gain political mileage,” said an officer.
Two persons — 65-year-old Anarul Biswas and 20-year-old Salauddin Sheikh — were killed in the bomb-and-bullet duel.
“We are on the same side as these protesters. Why would we fire at them?” asked Murshidabad Trinamul MP Abu Taher Khan.