11 injured in Cong-Trinamool clash over party office
The Uttarpara area under Berhampore police station in Murshidabad turned into a battle zone on Saturday morning after a clash erupted between Congress and Trinamool supporters over the occupation of a party office.
The Uttarpara area under Berhampore police station in Murshidabad turned into a battle zone on Saturday morning after a clash erupted between Congress and Trinamool supporters over the occupation of a party office.
Eleven supporters from the two parties were injured. But none were arrested. Locals told HT, around three years ago some Congressmen of Uttarpara area set up a party office there for the use of local Congress supporters.
But two days ago some Trinamool men of the area took control of the party office and reportedly threw away the picture and posters of the state Congress president president and Berhampore MP Adhir Chowdhury from the office.
Locals alleged they also tore some Congress party’s flag at the office. They also tried to erase the Congress party’s name from the office. On Saturday morning under the leadership of Murshidabad zilla parishad Sabhadhipati Shiladitya Haldar some Congress men went to Uttarpara –along with a police contingent of Berhampore PS- to get control over the party office.
When the Congress men requested the TMC supporters to vacate the party office they didn’t to pay heed to the appeal. At that time a clash broke out between the Congress and TMC men- in front of police.
They attacked each other with lathis and bricks. In this incident 11 supporters of the two parties were injured. The personal security officer of Sabhadhipati also sustained serious injury in his head. He has been admitted to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital.
The Trinamool president of Murshidabad Mannan Hossain said, “A few years back one Jahangir Sheikh and Ismile Sheikh constructed the party office near Uttarpara when they were with the Congress. But the two persons quit the Congress with me and now they are with the Trinamool.”
He said, “As the owner of the building Jahangir, Ismail and some others were sitting at the office for last two days. But today morning some Congress men attacked our supporters under the leadership of Murshidabad zilla parishad Sabhadhipati Shiladitya Haldar and another Congress leader Hiru Haldar.”
Hossain said, “The attack was conducted in front of police and they remained a silent spectator. In the attack of the Congress men five Trinamool supporters have sustained serious injury.”
District Congress spokesperson Asok Das said, “The Congress party office isn’t anyone’s personal property. If a person quits the Congress and joins the Trinamool that doesn’t mean that the party office will also turn into the Trinamool’s party office.”
He alleged, “The Trinamool goons forcefully occupied our party office 2 days ago and today morning when our supporters went to the scene to vacate it from the Trinamool, the Congress supporters faced the Trinamool’s attack in front of police. In this incident 6 Congress men were injured. The personal security officer of zilla parishad Sabhadhipati has also sustained serious head injury.”
Das said, “We have told SP to arrest the culprits immediately. If police doesn’t do that the Congress will launch larger movement across the district.” Murshidabad SP C Sudhakar said, “I have come to know about the clash-over the occupancy of a party office. But till this afternoon no one has lodged any written complaint so yet no one has been arrested.”