Kolkata, August 03: Two persons were killed as fresh clashes broke out in Katwa of Burdwan district on Sunday. The police, however, said both the deceased had a crime record.
Burdwan has been reeling under political violence for over a month with clashes recurring in Mangalkot, Natungram and other areas. Clashes erupted in Khalilpur village in early morning after two groups of miscreants, allegedly backed by rival political parties, clashed with each other at Kumargram ghat. They exchanged fire and hurled bombs at each other.
A huge contingent of police reached the spot and controlled the violence. They recovered the body of one Phulan Sheikh. Another villager Amin Sheikh, who was critically injured, was rushed to the Katwa hospital. He was, however, declared dead on arrival.
“There was a clash between two groups. Those who were killed in the clash had a history of crime. Our forces have rushed to the area and the situation is under control now,” said R Rajshekharan, District Police Superintendent of Burdwan.
The police conducted raids at various areas in Ketugram and a huge contingent of police have been posted at the spot to prevent further violence.
A team of CPM MLAs, including Muhammed Massiah, Kartik Bag, Samar Hazra, Pradip Ta and MP Saidul Haq, meanwhile, visited the family members of those killed and injured in the recent violence in Natungram. Last week two persons, a Trinamool and a CPM supporter, were killed in clashes there. The MLA team was escorted by a huge contingent of police led by the police superintendent himself.
When the team reached the house of Samsur Rehman Sheikh, the Trinamool supporter who was killed recently, his relatives protested and said one of the MLAs in the team — Pradip Ta — was responsible for his death.
Parula Bibi, wife of Samsur, shouted at the team: “Why have you brought him here? Why have you all come here? Pradip Ta masterminded my husband’s murder and now he is here to show sympathy.” The team left the village thereafter.
Muhammed Massiah conceded that people were angry. “Clashes and murders are most unwanted and nobody supports them. People are traumatised and therefore anger is seething among them. We want the police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible be they from any political party,” said Massiah.
–Agencies