Clash Breaks Out Between Police & Locals Over Ration Distribution In West Bengal; Watch Video

The police, however, has claimed that the locals blocked a road and when they objected, locals attacked them. The incident took place in Baduria, North 24 Parganas

Screengrab/ ANI

West Bengal: A clash broke out between police personnel and locals alleging improper distribution of ration material. The police, however, has claimed that the locals blocked a road and when they objected, locals attacked them. The incident took place in Baduria, North 24 Parganas. In a video posted by the news agency ANI, locals are seen attacking police personnel, while the police are also seen beating people.

#WATCH: Clash broke between Police and locals after they (Police) objected to the road being blocked by the locals. The locals were alleging improper distribution of ration material amid #CoronavirusLockdown in Baduria, North 24 Parganas. #WestBengal https://t.co/TnzIOM0Qhp pic.twitter.com/ffJRXKknr4

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2020

#WATCH: Locals clash with Police personnel after they (locals) had blocked the road alleging improper distribution of ration material amid #CoronavirusLockdown in Baduria, North 24 Parganas. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/ceuxq6mcEl

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2020

In a similar incident, clashes broke out outside PDS outlets in parts of West Bengal earlier this month as people jostled to get free ration being distributed by the state government. Police had to meddle in between to control the mob. Similar scenes were witnessed outside a shop in Purulia''s Balarampur where two groups clashed over free ration, police said, adding that the dealer was also thrashed by the mob for failing to provide the quantity of foodgrain promised by the state government. In Kolkata and other districts, people were seen scrambling at the Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets to stock up, defying the advice of social distancing. The West Bengal government has announced free ration for over 7.5 crore population in the state till September in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Large gatherings were seen outside such outlets in Tollygunge, Beliaghata, Maniktala and Dum Dum areas of the city. The number of lives claimed by the COVID-19 Coronavirus in India escalated sharply to 640 on Wednesday morning, with the total tally of positive cases rapidly nearing the 20,000 mark. West Bengal's total COVID-19 count is 423 with over 15 deaths in the state. 73 people have also recovered from the novel Coronavirus infection.