In a fresh spell of violence that erupted today in the Bhatpara-Kankinara belt in North 24- Parganas, miscreants vandalised the Bhatpara municipal hospital, leaving two hospital workers grievously injured and forcing patients and their kin to run for their lives.
Bombings that began at night on 13 July continued during the day and the situation worsened so much that a section of local residents squatted on the railway tracks at Kankinara for two hours to vent their ire, disrupting train services. The police recovered around 50 bombs.
The residents of BhatparaKankinara are living in perpetual fear, as rampant bombings continued till today, leading to closure of shops, schools and even transport services in the area. Fresh violence erupted on Saturday night and continued till Sunday.
This morning, bombings took place at Ghosh Para Road, Kankinara, Railway Siding and several other points, forcing police to open fire, according to local sources. Around 50 to 60 bombs have been recovered by the police from a railway colony in Kantapara. It was learnt that two mosques in the area, were also attacked.
Several bombs were hurled near the Bhatpara Municipality and the property was vandalised. Shortly after, a hospital, reportedly run by the municipal body, was attacked, forcing patients and their kin, to flee the establishment.
According to an eyewitness who is also a hospital staff, one of the patients was seen running with the saline tubes still attached to his body while the cash boxes in the hospital were looted by the miscreants. The hospital bore a desolate look with most beds empty. It was further learnt that the miscreants had banners which said Arjun Singh Hatao, Desh Bachao.
Meanwhile, the agitated locals today blocked trains in Kankinara for two hours, protesting on the track. They demanded that the police take immediate action to control the situation. Due to the protests, train services remained suspended in the Sealdah section for about two hours, leaving passengers severely inconvenienced. The agitators, however, withdrew the protest after the police assurance. But no sooner than it was withdrawn, the bombings resumed.
The Bhatpara police station was also gheraoed in protest by agitated locals who maintain their allegations that the incidents of violence are taking place right under the nose of the police who are failing to contain the violence and are instead arresting innocent residents. They demanded that the police seize the entire stockpile of weapons that has been smuggled into the area since the Lok Sabha polls.
Talking to The Statesman, Trinamul Congress North 24- Parganas district president, Jyotipriyo Mullick, alleged “The MP, MLA and the civic body chairman, are quite apparently against restoring peace in the area. Today, the municipality was also attacked and vandalised.”