Police on Saturday resorted to lathicharge injuring at least five people at Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas which once again witnessed street fights moments after a three-member BJP national delegation visiting the area left, sources said adding, one person had sustained head injuries.
Even as the ruling Trinamool Congress leaders blamed the BJP for stoking violence, Arjun Singh, the BJP MP from Barackpore under which Bhatpara is an Assembly segment, said police resorted to an unprovoked lathicharge adding the locals would continue their protests till the administration took measures to rein in the TMC hooligans.
Accusing the BJP of “fishing in troubled waters”, State Minister and senior TMC leader Partho Chatterjee wondered whether there was a need for the BJP delegation to visit the area.
At least six people have died in one month. Out of them at least two persons died in police firing last week.
The BJP’s fact-finding delegation that on Friday visited the area said they had definite evidence to show that police had opened fire killing two persons and injuring the rest.
“We have found shells of bullets used in Insas rifle,” said SS Ahluwalia a member of the delegation. “Police said they fired in the air but how did the bullets hit the victims on ground. Were the people flying in the sky?” he asked.
The delegation, led by Ahluwalia and comprising Vishnu Dayal Ram and Satya Pal Singh, met the family of deceased persons and locals. The team was likely to submit a report on the situation to Home Minister Amit Shah, party sources said.