BAGDAH/ASHOKENAGAR: The Election Commission has sought reports into two incidents of firing in North 24 Parganas during polls on Thursday: the first by the state police, in which two people were injured, and the other an allegation of firing by central forces.
The former incident, at Bagdah, was confirmed by the cops, while the district administration denied the latter, at Ashokenagar, as “a rumour”. According to a district police officer, a police patrol came under attack by a 150-strong mob, injuring three policemen when they tried to break up a clash. In the latter incident, the EC has sought a report on how two people received bullet injuries as the administration said the reports were a rumour.
The Bagdah incident happened when the police responded to a clash at Ranoghat. “A 150-strong mob, armed with iron rods, bamboo sticks and sharp weapons attacked the sector office,” said a police officer. “A police team tried to disperse the mob when it started pelting stones, leaving three cops injured. The cops had to open fire in the air to disperse the mob,” he added. Two people were injured.
At Ashokenagar, trouble broke out over the ransack of a BJP camp office. TMC and BJP supporters clashed. Two people were injured, and allegations began to fly that it was CISF men that had opened fire, a charge denied by the district administration.
“Both groups hurled bombs at each other near the booth,” said a resident, adding, “A police vehicle and a bus ferrying polling officers were also severely damaged during the clash. After being alerted, the central forces jawans rushed to the spot to disperse the mob, failing which they opened fire, in which two persons were injured .” The injured persons identified as Khabirul Hossain and Sheikh Sujauddin, both with bullet injuries in their legs.
Ashokenagar TMC candidate Narayan Goswami claimed both the injured persons were his party supporters. “The central forces deliberately opened fire at our supporters, leaving injured two of them. They have been admitted to a nursing home in Barasat. I have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the firing,” Goswami said. Sumit Gupta, DM, North 24 Parganas, denied allegations of firing. “We have already looked into the matter and spoken to officials manning the booth. Nothing firing has happened. We suspect that it was just a rumour,” he said.
The former incident, at Bagdah, was confirmed by the cops, while the district administration denied the latter, at Ashokenagar, as “a rumour”. According to a district police officer, a police patrol came under attack by a 150-strong mob, injuring three policemen when they tried to break up a clash. In the latter incident, the EC has sought a report on how two people received bullet injuries as the administration said the reports were a rumour.
The Bagdah incident happened when the police responded to a clash at Ranoghat. “A 150-strong mob, armed with iron rods, bamboo sticks and sharp weapons attacked the sector office,” said a police officer. “A police team tried to disperse the mob when it started pelting stones, leaving three cops injured. The cops had to open fire in the air to disperse the mob,” he added. Two people were injured.
At Ashokenagar, trouble broke out over the ransack of a BJP camp office. TMC and BJP supporters clashed. Two people were injured, and allegations began to fly that it was CISF men that had opened fire, a charge denied by the district administration.
“Both groups hurled bombs at each other near the booth,” said a resident, adding, “A police vehicle and a bus ferrying polling officers were also severely damaged during the clash. After being alerted, the central forces jawans rushed to the spot to disperse the mob, failing which they opened fire, in which two persons were injured .” The injured persons identified as Khabirul Hossain and Sheikh Sujauddin, both with bullet injuries in their legs.
Ashokenagar TMC candidate Narayan Goswami claimed both the injured persons were his party supporters. “The central forces deliberately opened fire at our supporters, leaving injured two of them. They have been admitted to a nursing home in Barasat. I have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the firing,” Goswami said. Sumit Gupta, DM, North 24 Parganas, denied allegations of firing. “We have already looked into the matter and spoken to officials manning the booth. Nothing firing has happened. We suspect that it was just a rumour,” he said.
