Kolkata Police has detained two individuals following a violent clash between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers at Brahmapur in the Bansdroni area. The incident, which occurred on the night of June 7, has sparked accusations from both sides.
BJP's Allegations
The BJP alleged that two of its members were severely assaulted while attempting to stop an extortion racket. Nanda Baidya, 42, an active BJP worker and president of booth 291, lodged a formal written complaint, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) at Bansdroni Police Station.
According to the FIR, Baidya received information about a group allegedly extorting money in the Brahmapur Badamtala area. Accompanied by Amar Ghosh, the head of the local BJP Shakti Kendra, Baidya rushed to the spot at around 9:15 pm. “We reached the spot and protested against the extortion. At that point, those individuals threatened us with death and severely assaulted us,” Baidya stated in his complaint.
The FIR names several accused, including Rajib Dev Chowdhury, owner of a local rice store, along with Raja Ghosh, Saibal Bhattacharya, Swapan Bhowmick, and Rajdeep Das. The complainant alleged that the accused acted in criminal conspiracy, wrongfully restrained them, and launched a physical assault using fists, blows, and kicks, causing severe physical injuries. The victims tried to resist but were overpowered.
TMC's Counter-Claim
The TMC, however, claimed that the confrontation was entirely pre-planned by the saffron party. TMC leaders argued that the BJP orchestrated the incident to gain political mileage ahead of upcoming elections. They accused the BJP of fabricating the extortion story to incite violence.
Medical Treatment and Investigation
Following the attack, both Baidya and Ghosh were rushed to MR Bangur Hospital, where they received medical treatment before being discharged. Medical documents have been submitted to the police alongside the complaint. A probe into the political clash is underway, and police pickets have been deployed to maintain law and order in the area. Authorities are examining CCTV footage and gathering witness statements to ascertain the sequence of events.
The detention of two individuals marks an early step in the investigation. Police officials stated that more arrests may follow as the inquiry progresses. The incident has heightened political tensions in the region, with both parties calling for strict action against the culprits.
