Several BJP supporters were injured when the police resorted to lathicharge at protesting party men at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, Balurghat in South Dinajpur district and Basirhat in South 24-Parganas, party sources said.
The BJP has for the past fortnight been organising law-breaking movements at various parts of Bengal to protest against the deteriorating law and order situation and rising crime against women in the State.
“The BJP supports were organizing peaceful protest march at Raiganj and there was no reason why the police should suddenly attack them. But the police broke all democratic norms and pounced on the protesters, lathi-charged unarmed rallyists, fired tear-gas shells” State party leader Ritesh Tiwari said. “The police only used mild force to disperse the crowd which had turned violent damaging government properties and attacking us” a senior police official said.
There were unconfirmed reports of firing by the police at Raiganj but the district administration rejected the allegations as baseless. Similar demonstrations also took place at Balurghat and Basirhat which in North 24 Parganas which is represented by Samik Bhattacharya the lone saffron MlA in the State.
Earlier last week senior BJP leaders like Kailash Vijaybargiya and others were injured in a scuffle with the police at Krishnagar prompting the leaders to start an indefinite fast which was ultimately withdrawn at the request of party president Amit Shah.