By IANS,
Kolkata: One man was killed and six others, including two policemen, were injured as activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Trinamool Congress clashed in several villages in West Bengal’s Hooghly district Thursday, police said.
“One person was killed and at least six people including two police personnel were injured when clashes broke out between the activists of the two political parties,” Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha told IANS.
Sources said the clashes broke out in Majhpur, Bardighrui and Chandrabhan villages of the district.
When a large police contingent reached the spot, it was met with a hail of bullets, one of which hit Khanakul police station officer-in-charge Sukomal Das, a state police official said.
“Four political workers have been injured. The condition of three of them is said to be serious,” he said.
The violence also rocked the Lok Sabha, leading to its adjournment for an hour. Members of the Trinamool Congress raised the issue, drawing vehement protests from CPI-M MPs. As the uproar continued despite Speaker Meira Kumar’s appeals, she adjourned the house for an hour at 12.30 p.m
Meanwhile, Das and the three seriously injured activists have been brought to Kolkata for treatment.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held a high level meeting at the state secretariat to review the law and order situation in the troubled zone.
“The chief minister has given instructions to the district magistrate and police superintendent of Hooghly to take strong and effective action against the offenders. The government has also asked the district administration to control the situation, taking both the rival groups into confidence,” state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters here.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress claimed that all the victims, including Ananta Dolui who was killed, belonged to their party.
On the other hand, the CPI-M claimed that the four injured were their party workers.
There was no confirmation from the police about the political affiliation of the victims.
The state has witnessed a spate of political killings and clashes since the April-May Lok Sabha polls as the ruling CPI-M and the opposition Trinamool Congress fight for the political turf.