Political Violence Returns to Kolkata's Girish Park Crossing
Almost 11 years after a bullet injured a police officer during a political confrontation, street fights have resurfaced at the same north Kolkata intersection. On Saturday, a violent clash between BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters erupted at Girish Park crossing, highlighting how the city's old pre-election turf wars are making a comeback ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Violence Erupts Near Minister's Residence
The BJP–Trinamool clash occurred just outside minister Shashi Panja's residence at 250 C R Avenue. It erupted on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally at Brigade Parade Ground and quickly escalated into a pitched battle lasting over an hour. Supporters from both parties returned with reinforcements, attacking each other with glass bottles, stones, and bamboo poles as terrified pedestrians ran for cover, shops pulled down shutters, and traffic came to a complete halt.
For many residents in the area, the violence revived painful memories of April 2015, when a similar clash at the same crossing left a police sub-inspector injured after a bullet struck him in the waist. That confrontation was also triggered by political area domination, mirroring Saturday's events.
Injuries and Police Response
According to local reports, at least 10 people were injured in Saturday's violence, while several police officers also sustained injuries while attempting to control the situation. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel later conducted lathi-charges to disperse the attackers. When the clash finally subsided, Girish Park crossing bore the marks of a full-scale confrontation. Broken glass and stones lay strewn across the road, several guard rails were damaged, and police helmets, apparently lost in the melee, were scattered on the pavement.
Trigger and Allegations
Saturday's clash began with allegations that Trinamool's campaign material was removed by BJP supporters on their way to attend Prime Minister Modi's programme. What started as a confrontation over posters soon snowballed into a violent street fight. There were counter-allegations of stones being thrown at buses transporting BJP supporters to the rally ground, though Trinamool later denied this claim.
Minister Shashi Panja alleged that she and her workers were attacked inside her residence by BJP supporters. "It was a pre-planned attack as the goons were armed with glass bottles, stones, and bamboo poles. They attacked me and my workers, injuring many of us," said Panja. She further claimed the attackers damaged the front portion of her residence.
BJP leaders, however, placed the blame squarely on Trinamool. Addressing the Brigade rally, Prime Minister Modi asserted that the ruling party was attempting to prevent people from attending his rally. "They destroyed our posters and banners. They attacked our supporters to stop this rally," said the Prime Minister. Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar added, "They attacked our supporters in various places, including Girish Park. Nobody will be spared."
Electoral and Economic Stakes
Local residents and political workers suggest the return of such street fights is tied to both electoral anxiety and control over a commercially lucrative pocket of north Kolkata. The Girish Park crossing lies on the edge of two high-stakes assembly segments where the BJP has grown increasingly strong. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Trinamool trailed the BJP in the Shyampukur segment by over 1,500 votes and in Jorasanko by more than 7,000 votes, despite winning both seats in the 2021 assembly elections.
With assembly polls approaching and political calculations being reset, Saturday's clash indicates that, in parts of north Kolkata, the street is once again becoming an election battleground. "Trinamool knows that this time they will not be able to ambush us. They are panicking," said Vijay Ojha, BJP councillor from Ward 23. Trinamool councillor Mahesh Kumar Sharma of Ward 42 countered, "BJP could hardly mobilise people for the PM rally. The clash was engineered to distract people."
A local businessman noted the violence also relates to who controls Burrabazar's economic influence. "This is the nerve centre of wholesale trade, where business worth several thousands of crores takes place daily. Before elections, parties need funds, and such area domination helps in terrorising people," he explained.
Community Concerns
For traders like Biju Shaw, a sweetshop owner at Girish Park crossing, Saturday's violence felt like a return to an older Kolkata. "It was a reminder of old times when supporters of two parties would clash. I hope the government controls this in time," said Shaw, 63. The incident underscores growing concerns about political violence as election season intensifies, with residents hoping for swift intervention to prevent further escalation.
