Members of two factions of the Trinamul Congress clashed again in Basanti in South 24-Parganas, resulting in two fatalities, including of a 10-year-old boy, while several persons were injured, including a policeman. A large police force that rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control, was also attacked with crude bombs being hurled at them and several shots fired.

The clash erupted on Thursday morning between a TMC faction backed by Tapu Mahato, a leader of the TMC, who is also a follower of Mr. Jayanta Naskar, TMC MLA of Gosaba and another led by Aman Laskar, a youth TMC leader and follower of Saokat Molla, TMC MLA of Canning (East) and the district youth TMC president, at Hentalkhali village of Charavidya gram panchayat within Basanti police limits. The youth TMC workers allegedly first attacked the workers of the mother party over a dispute regarding a village fair.

Bombs were hurled and several rounds were fired by the youth group. The members of the mother group retaliated with bombs and firearms. A large police force rushed to the spot but could not bring the situation under control as they were targeted by the TMC activists involved in the clash. A 10-year-old boy returning from his school at that time was hit by a stray bullet and he was sent to a local hospital in critical condition where he was declared brought dead. Police sources identified the dead boy as Riyazul Molla.

Another person, Hasan Laskar, also died after being hit by a bullet, an unofficial source said. A member of the police combat force, Baneswar Singh, was also hit by a bullet and has been taken to Canning sub-divisional hospital in critical condition. Several persons, including women, were injured during the clash and were taken to Canning hospital, most of them had to be shifted to hospital in Kolkata for better treatment.

Injured TMC workers, Kartick Mondol, Umesh Bera and Uttam Mahato, admitted in Canning hospital, alleged that the youth TMC activists backed by Aman Laskar suddenly opened fire and hurled bombs at them this morning because they are the followers of Mr. Jayanta Naskar.

However, youth TMC activists said members of the TMC group led by Tapu Mahato, a follower of Mr. Naskar, first opened fire at them and they only retaliated. In the wake of the clash, tension gripped the villages under Charavidya gram panchayat and a large police force including RAF and combat force has been deployed in the area to maintain peace.

No arrests have been made so far. The district TMC leaders held discussions with the local leaders over the clash.