West Midnapore: Police impose curfew after communities clash

Members of the two communities reportedly got involved in an altercation, which resulted in violence.

Sources said it all started with the death of a 14-year old Dalit boy on September 19. “He was riding a motorcycle and accidentally hit a Muslim girl. A mob beat up the boy so badly that he succumbed to the injuries. Since then an uneasy calm prevailed in the area,” said a
local.

On Tuesday, as violence broke out, several shops were razed and about a dozen two-wheelers damaged.

Police forces from adjoining areas were deployed in order to tackle the situation. While a curfew was imposed, even two days later, personnel from central forces are still camping in the area.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who is the MLA from Kharagpur, rushed to the place following the incident.

A senior officer from Kharagpur (Town) police station said several police personnel, including Circle Inspector Gyandev Pasad Shaw, were injured in the clash.

“We had arrested 45 people on charges of rioting. They were presented at the court today. While six of them have been sent to police custody, the rest have been sent to jail,” the police officer said.

State BJP secretary Sayantan Basu said: “We have learnt that at least two party offices — one of the BJP and the other of Trinamool Congress – have been damaged. Our state president has visited the place. The district police is acting like cadres of Trinamool.”

CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra tweeted: “The 34 years of LF government ensured communal harmony. No tolerance was followed for the criminals trying to disrupt harmony. Why are you failing madam CM.”