VIOLENCE

CPM-Trinamul clash in Tufanganj, 1 gunned down, bandh

TUFANGANJ (Cooch Behar), June 12: Tension prevailing in Nakkatigachh and other areas in Tufanganj of Cooch Behar following last night's large-scale violence in that area. One person died and several others wounded there in a widespread clash between CPI-M and Trinamul Congress supporters.

Today, both the parties have called 24-hour bandh blaming each other for the violence. War of wards started between the parties claiming the dead man as their supporter.

Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said the situation is now under control. Section 144 CrPC was imposed in the area to maintain law and order situation peaceful. Police are patrolling in the troubled area.

Natabari MLA (CPI-M) Mr Tamser Ali demanded promulgation of curfew in the area alleging that the Trinamul Congress supporters are not obeying the prohibitory order (Section 144 CrPC). This morning, he conveyed the demand to the chief minister's office.

Mentionworthy, several persons were wounded in a massive clash that occurred between CPI-M and Trinamul Congress supporters at Nakkatigachh in Tufanganj, Cooch Behar, on Wednesday night. The violence claimed the life of one Debabrata Pramanik (22). Two Trinamul Congress supporters – Pran Kumar Barman and Brojendra Barman were sent to hospital in serious condition.

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh claimed that their three supporters received gunfire injury. Four others also injured, he said.

District CPI-M secretary Mr Chandi Pal alleged that 21 of their supporters were injured. He alleged that police are not taking strict measures to control the situation. "If this continues we will have to handle the situation on our own", he threatened.

Mr Chandi Pal alleged that after the panchayat elections the Trinamul Congress started terror politics in several areas in Tufanganj. Yesterday they attacked the Nakkatigachh CPI-M office at Baraitola. They killed a SFI leader Debabrata Pramanik, who is a student of Tufanganj College. Pramanik was inside the office when the Trinamul supports made the attack. "Protesting the killing the SFI called a 24-hour bandh today and we extended support to it", he said.

The Trinamul Congress goons attacked the residence of Natabari MLA Mr Tamser Ali at Deocharai this morning", Mr Pal said. The MLA too alleged that the Trinamul Congress supporters kept his residence encircled from this morning but policemen prevented them from committing any harm.

District Trinamul Congress president, Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh claimed that Pramanik and all of his family members joined the Trinamul Congress after the panchayat elections. He started working for Trinamul Chhatra Parishad. The armed CPI-M men gunned down him when they attacked the Trinamul's rally at Baraitola in which he was a participant. He also denied of any attack on the Natabari MLA's residence.

Natabari MLA, also a CPI-M district secretariat member, Mr Tamser Ali believes that anti-socials brought from Assam accompanied the Trinamul men yesterday. They freely used firearms and the SFI leader died of their gunshot, he alleged.

No senior police officer was found in a mood to comment anything over the situation of Nakkatigachh. []