POLITICS !

CPM-Trinamul clash, 10 hurt, house blazed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 1: Following a widespread violence between Trinamul Congress and CPI-M supporters ten persons were injured and three dwellings were blazed at Baro-kawerdera village under Pachagarh gram panchayat area in Mathabhanga at the early hours of today. The two warring groups lodged two separate cases against each other but no arrest was done till Wednesday afternoon. A police picket was posted at the area to avert fresh violence.

 

It was learnt that there was a longstanding dispute between CPI-M and Trinamul Congress supporters over pisciculture in the local Elongmari canal. Pisciculture in the canal has been disturbing cultivation of paddy in the adjacent areas. Yesterday, a conciliatory meeting was also held but that failed to douse the dispute between the CPI-M and the Trinamul Congress supporters because the CPI-M men are involved in the pisciculture in the canal.

 

The dispute turned violent when some angry locals set fire to three residences of Trinamul Congress supporters at the early hours of today. A house was badly damaged in that blaze. Soon after that incident some Trinamul supporters retaliated by attacking a local CPI-M activist's house. About ten persons were injured in the melee. Seven of the injured were sent to Mathabhanga sub-divisional hospital. As condition of two CPI-M supporters turned critical they were shifted to MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar.

 

Mathabhanga SDPO Mr Ananda Roy rushed to the troubled village with a large contingent of police to control the situation. He said the situation is now peaceful and police patrolling is on to maintain peace. Two cases were lodged from both sides but no arrest was possible till now as the accused have absconded, he added. []