Two police officers got injured after a member of a Durga Puja committee assaulted them on Wednesday when the officers reached there to stop a clash among two warring groups who represent two clubs.

The incident occurred in Nagurhat under Baxirhat police station of Cooch Behar district. Police have registered a case against 15 persons. Eight persons have been arrested, but not the main accused.

Sources said that for several years now, a Durga Puja is held at the Nagurhat market. Since the past few years, another Puja is held at a stone’s throw from the older Puja. A few days ago, a trader had an altercation with members of the newer Puja committee.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), members of the committee said that till the trader apologises, they will not take out the idols for immersion. The older Puja committee objected to it. This led to a fresh altercation,” said a resident.In the evening, police reached the spot to keep the situation under control and asked both clubs to prepare for immersion.“Then, Sushanta Sarkar, a resident who is with the organisers of the newer Puja, got into an altercation with the cops. Suddenly, he assaulted Baxirhat police station OC Subhajit Jha and ASI Feroze Ali,” said a police source.

When cops caught Sushanta and tried to put him in a police van, some residents, including women, stopped them. As the cops got busy handling the crowd, Sushanta fled. Police filed a case against 15 persons, including Sushanta. “Eight have been arrested. Search is on for others, including Sushanta,” said an officer.