At a time Alipore zoo is shut to visitors, hundreds of Trinamul and BJP supporters fought inside the park to take control of a union office. By late afternoon, the Trinamul “takeover” of the union office — till now controlled by BJP leader Rakesh Singh — was complete. The BJP flags adorning the union office were thrown away and replaced with Trinamul flags.

Large teams from Watgunge and Alipore police stations went to the spot. “There was no violence, only pushing and shoving and a minor scuffle,” said an officer.

There was no word, either from the zoo officials or from the police, on why so many people were allowed inside when the park is shut for visitors to check the spread of Covid infections.

Trinamul workers alleged that the union members were “fed up with Singh’s autocratic tenure and sought help”. Singh denied the allegations and said: “Trinamul goons, all outsiders, forcibly took control of the union.”

Asis Kumar Samanta, the director of the zoo, could not be contacted for comment despite calls from this newspaper.

Saurabh Chaudhuri, the member-secretary of the Bengal Zoo Authority, said: “I will not comment on union-related issues. The animals are safe. There was no disruption in their schedule. No property of the zoo has been damaged.”