Kolkata, Nov 27: A Trinamool supporter died and five others, including the officer-in -charge of Khanakul police station, critically injured as armed Trinamool and CPM cadres clashed today using guns and bombs in trouble-torn Hooghly.
The injured officer in-charge, Sukamal Das, said he was fired at by armed CPM cadres when he reached the interior parts of a village where clashes were going on. Das has been admitted to SSKM hospital with bullet injuries. No one has been arrested so far. The deceased was identified as Ananta Dolui from Chandravan village.
Police said the clashes broke out when CPM supporters tried to re-capture some villages, residents of which had switched their allegiance from CPM to Trinamool following Lok Sabha polls.
According to the police, about 50 miscreants carrying firearms, bombs and hand cannons attacked Majhpur, Hiyadpur, Ghol-digrui, Helan and Chandrabhan villages around 7 am. Armed Trinamool supporters retaliated and clashes continued for hours.
Ananta, who was working in his paddy field at Chandravan village, was hit in his left eye and died on the spot. His brother was also shot at. Some houses were looted and then set ablaze by the miscreants.
After being informed of the attack, a police team led by Das reached the spot when it was fired at by the miscreants. Das was hit on his right ankle. The goons fled after the policemen fired back.
Locals resisted the police’s attempt to take away the body saying they had arrived late despite being informed in time. Eventually, they were pacified by senior police officers and the five injured were brought to the SSKM Hospital. Police pickets have been posted in the area.
CPM Khanakul zonal committee secretary alleged the Trinamool-backed “goons” and Maoists attacked the houses of his party supporters in Chandrabhan and Majhpur villages. Ananta’s family members denied he was a Trinamool supporter.
Sources said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had spoken to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over the phone during the day and briefed the latter about the Khanakul situation.
–Agencies