There was no sign of recession in political bedlam in Bengal. Rather, the post-poll violence engulfed the State from north to south with reports of arson, loot, shoot-outs — mostly involving the Trinamool Congress and BJP — pouring in from all parts of the State.
In North Bengal’s Coochbehar district, tens of houses were burnt and many TMC party offices were on Friday looted and torched by alleged BJP supporters allegedly as a retaliatory attack from the saffron side after four of their party members were attacked with sharp weapons. The foursome had been hospitalised.
The incidents took place at Sitai, Toofanganj and Mathabhanga, sources said. BJP’s Nisit Pramanik has wrested the Coochbehar seat from the ruling TMC.
Parts of South Bengal also continued to simmer with continuing BJP-TMC clashes spreading far and across Barrackpore constituency. Tens of motor bikes reportedly belonging to TMC supporters were torched at Naihati,
At least 15 houses were looted at Ichhapore, houses and shops were looted and ransacked from Jagaddal to Bhatpara with hundreds of people taking shelter at government schools to avoid riot-like situation even as newly won BJP MP and local strongman Arjun Singh went out appealing to the people te remain silent.
Even as the State political leadership struggled to recover from the shock of electoral defeat conceding 12 seats to the surging BJP the bureaucracy had a tough time handling the chaotic situation with both the sides attacking each other with bombs, brickbats and other dangerous weapons requiring State DGP Virendra to rush to the place and hold peace meetings.
At Bankura too where BJP’s Subhas Sarkar humbled CPI(M) and TMC heavyweights Amiya Patra and Subroto Mukherjee a reported saffron worker was fired at. He however was saved by a whisper as the bullet grazed past his ear. In neighbouring constituency of Purulia a youth allegedly a TMC man was shot in his leg by bike-born assailants police said claiming the attackers could be BJP workers.
Nearer Kolkata attacks on the opposition parties continued at Bhangor where houses of CPI(M) supporters were bombed and looted by alleged TMC men. The victims said they were attacked because the TMC thought that the Left transferred their votes to the BJP.