Violence continues in Bengal: 3 BJP workers, 1 TMC activist killed in Basirhat clash

TMC and BJP workers got into a violent clash over taking off party flags in Basirhat’s Sandeshkhali. Both groups pelted stones, hurled bombs and opened fire at each other.

New Delhi: Even after the end of the high-stake Lok Sabha elections marred by sporadic incidents of clashes, the streak of violence remains continued in West Bengal. Fresh incident has been reported from Basirhat where TMC and BJP workers allegedly clashed with each other. One TMC worker has been killed in the reported clash, while BJP has also claimed death of three of its workers. TMC and BJP workers got into a violent clash over taking off party flags in Basirhat’s Sandeshkhali. Both groups pelted stones, hurled bombs and opened fire at each other.  One TMC supporter Kayum Mollah, aged 26 years was killed in the violent clashes, leaving five others injured. To control the tensed situation, massive police force was  deployed. Basirhat is situated in Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said three of his party workers - Sukanta Mondal, Pradip Mondal and Shankar Mondal -- were shot dead when they stopped TMC supporters from "throwing away" their party flags. "We have received bodies of three of our workers. We have heard that two more have also died but are yet to receive the bodies. They tried to throw away our party flags and posters and when we protested, our workers were shot from point blank range," Basu said. Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy said the party would apprise Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the incident, as the TMC is "solely responsible for unleashing violence against BJP activists in Bengal". The TMC also claimed that one of its supporters was killed. The party's North 24 Parganas district president and senior state minister Jyotipriyo Mullick said party supporter Kayum Mollah was "hacked and shot dead by BJP workers". "When Kayum was on his way to attend a party meeting, he was hacked at first. When he managed to free himself, he was shot dead. The BJP is trying to vitiate the atmosphere and disturb peace in the district," Mullick said. BJP leader Babul Supriyo also tweeted about the incident:

Deeply disturbed to have heard about the triple murder of BJP Karyakartas at Sandeshkhali, Basirhat Loksabha by #TMChhi goons. The people of Bengal will very soon put an end to #TMChhi atrocities.@BJP4Bengal

— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) June 8, 2019