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2 dead in clashes in West Bengal; BJP blames TMC, Mamata for violence, to report to Amit Shah

The incident occurred hours before the state police chief was supposed to inaugurate a newly-constructed police station.

2 dead in clashes in West Bengal; BJP blames TMC, Mamata for violence, to report to Amit Shah

One of the deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Rambabu Shaw but the police are yet to establish identities of the injured. (Representational Photo: AFP)

Two persons were reportedly killed after violence erupted between two unidentified groups in North 24 Parganas district’s Bhatpara on Thursday following which police opened fire and deployed the Rapid Action Force amid the ongoing post-poll violence in West Bengal.

BJP MP Arjun Singh claimed that the victim was shot in the head, while six others also received bullet injuries.

Some of the injured are reportedly in a very critical condition.

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The incident occurred hours before the state police chief was supposed to inaugurate a newly-constructed police station.

Prior the inauguration, violence broke out in the area as miscreants resorted to bombings and also fired at each other. The police had to open fire and use tear gas to control the situation.

Police have recovered some arms and crude bombs from the area.

Singh blamed the Trinamool Congress, local police and officers of the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate for the violence.

One of the deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Rambabu Shaw but the police are yet to establish identities of the injured.

The state government has imposed prohibitory orders in the area, according to reports.

The BJP has blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress for the violence and said will submit a report to Home Minister Amit Shah.

BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya blamed the Trinamool government in the state and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the clashes. “Mamata Banerjee has lost her mental balance since the Lok Sabha elections. Clashes are taking place all over the state. I have got information that two people fell to police bullets,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

On the other hand, Trinamool leader Madan Mitra pointed out that Bhatpara has been witnessing violence for over a month.

According to an NDTV report, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the police brass to hold an emergency meeting at the state secretariat.

Post-poll violence has been reported from various places of West Bengal after the BJP secured 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, just four less than that of the TMC.

Earlier this month, four people had lost their lives in post-poll clashes in Bhangipara, Hatgacha in North 24 Parganas.

Workers of BJP and TMC had clashed over taking off party flags, leading to injuries on both sides. Besides three BJP workers, one TMC supporter was also reportedly died.

Following the killing of its workers and the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state, the BJP had observed a 12-hour shutdown in North 24 Parganas district’s Basirhat subdivision.

On June 12, hundreds of BJP activists took part in the party’s march to Kolkata Police Headquarters in West Bengal but were stopped midway by the police who used batons, fired water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

The party workers clashed with the police as they moved forward to the Kolkata Police Headquarters in Lalbazar.

The incidents of violence have sparked rumours of Constitution’s Article 356 – under which President’s Rule can be imposed in a state.

Bengal Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah earlier this month.

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