Clashes broke out between two alleged factions of the Trinamul Congress at Bhangar in the southern fringes of Calcutta on Saturday night.
A local Trinamul leader and six persons were injured and are being treated at a government hospital in Calcutta. Police have arrested seven persons.
The incident took place when local Trinamul leader Kaiser Islam sent his supporters to distribute relief materials to the Cyclone Amphan-stricken areas in Ghatakpukur near Bhangar. Another group allegedly affiliated to Arabul Islam, Kaiser’s rival, tried to stop the distribution. It took a violent turn when some of them started hurling bombs at each other.
“Arabul Islam and his men want to maintain complete control over Bhangar and hence, they stopped us from helping the people who are in trouble,” a member of Kaiser’s group said on condition of anonymity.
Badal Molla, the local president of Trinamul’s youth wing and a follower of Arabul, was injured by splinters from the bombs. Local Trinamul legislator Saokat Molla said the violence was the handiwork of goons from outside Bhangar. “There has been no faction fights in Trinamul,” he said.
On Sunday, local residents, mostly supporters of Arabul, blocked the Basanti Highway, which connects South 24-Parganas to Calcutta, for over an hour demanding the arrests of the miscreants. The blockade started from 7am. The road was cleared after the police promised to take immediate action.
