Kolkata, july 17: The Mangalkot incident in which eight Congress MLAs were attacked allegedly by armed CPM cadres on Wednesday rang aloud in the state Assembly and in the streets across the state on Thursday, with rampaging Congress workers blocking roads and railway tracks and torching state buses before calling for a Bengal bandh on Friday.
Pandemonium broke out in the Assembly with the Congress and the Trinamool staging a walkout. The Congress demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee while the Trinamool demanded Centre’s intervention.
The Congress has also demanded removal of the police superintendent and district magistrate of Burdwan. “The attack on the MLAs proved that the chief minister is not capable of good governance. If the DM and SP of the district are not removed, the chief minister has no moral right to continue.
We have called a 12-hour bandh in protest against the Mangalkot incident,” said Bhuniya who managed to escape unhurt when an armed mob ran after him.
Congress MLAs alleged that state Industries Minister Nirupam Sen, who recently visited Mangalkot, masterminded the incident.
On the backfoot, the chief minister tried to calm the frayed tempers in the Assembly. “I strongly condemn the incident. The situation is very grave throughout the state. I have spoken to Manas babu.”
The CM said fresh trouble has erupted in the state after the Lok Sabha polls and all parties should think about it. “Leaders and ministers are visiting areas where they face blockade. Yesterday, Manas Bhuniya was stopped. Earlier, a team of ministers was stopped in Khejuri. Such incidents should stop.”
Bhattacharjee admitted that the police failed to asses the gravity of the situation in Mangalkot. However, he denied the allegation that Sen was behind the incident. “I had a talk with Nirupam Sen yesterday. Your allegations are incorrect.
We are looking into the matter. If it is found that anyone from the party is involved, he will be punished,” the CM said, adding eight persons were already arrested following the incident.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool extended its “moral support” to the bandh. Partha Chatterjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said: “We have extended moral support to the bandh on Friday. Even our leaders, including myself, were forcibly stopped when we recently visited Mangalkot.”
Congress supporters, meanwhile, clashed with the police in various parts of the city and districts, leaving one person dead and several others injured. Nine vehicles, including state buses, were torched by the agitators across the state.
In Mangalkot, agitated Congress workers set three police vehicles on fire and clashed with the police when prevented from entering Burmud village. During the clash, a 40-year-old man died of a heart attack.
In Kolkata and Howrah, protesters put up road blocks and choked traffic. Commuters faced a harrowing time as agitators blocked 26 major crossings in Kolkata, including Gariahat, Howrah bridge, Kidderpore crossing, Bowbazar crossing, Dorina crossing in Esaplanade, Shyambazar, Moulali and Rashbehari Avenue. Four state buses were also set on fire in Kolkata.
Blockades were also put up in North and South 24-Parganas, Hooghly, Bankura, West Midnapore and other districts. A CITU office at Kandi in Murshidabad was ransacked by irate Congress workers.
“We have deployed police on the streets to control the blockades. Some were lifted soon while others took time. A total of 143 people have been arrested till evening,” said Kolkata Police Commissioner Gautammohan Chakraborti.
Train services to and from Kolkata were severely disrupted as agitators blocked railway tracks at different points in both Howrah and Sealdah divisions. Blockades were put up at Katwa, Sheoraphuli, Bansberia, Sahebpur, Bashirhat, Shyamnagar, Ichhapur, Habra, Birati and other stations. A total of 17 local trains had to be cancelled and 13 were delayed. Two passenger trains were also delayed.
Bengal Speaker wants all-party meet in Delhi.
West Bengal Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim on Thursday condemned the incident and called for an all-party meeting to resolve the problem. He said the meeting could be held in Delhi.
“Now, let us sit down together. I would expect that a meeting of all political parties will be called. But there is a problem. Some parties may abstain. Do they want the Centre to call a meeting? Then call it in Delhi,” the Speaker said.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is expected to arrive in Kolkata tonight. ENS
143 arrested in city, no one injured
Around 143 people were arrested on Thursday after agitated Congress workers put up road blockades across the city to protest against Wednesday’s attacks on Congress MLAs in Mangolkot. Nearly 35 major junctions across the city were affected from 10 am in the morning.
Two CSTC buses were set on fire, one each on Howrah Bridge and at Minto Park. Another bus on the Bijon Setu near Kasba connector was damaged while two more were ransacked by the protesters on the Sealdah flyover.
Police arrested around 51 members of the Mahila Congress as they tried to break a cordon near R R Avenue. They were later released after being produced before a magistrate.
Around 85 Chhatra Parishad members, including a woman, were arrested while they were protesting in front the Assembly’s North Gate. They too were later released.
The police said no one was injured in the protests and the police did not resort to lathicharge on protesters.
Javed Shamim, deputy commissioner (DD1), said, “There were roadblocks but the situation was under control.”
–Agencies