Two CPM groups clash

Two CPM groups clash

Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, May 1: Poll-related violence continued unabated in West Bengal today. A clash among two groups of CPI-M cadres in Hatgachia area of South 24 Parganas left four persons injured. In another incident, some CPI-M cadres went on a rampage, destroying property of Congress supporters and wounding at least eight men last night.
The Congressmen had left the CPI-M before the Assembly polls citing highhandedness of CPI-M leaders. After they came to know about the attack, Congress supporters from neighbouring villages rushed to their rescue resulting in a clash that dispersed only when a team from Habra police station intervened. To avert further violence, a police picket has been posted at Baogachi. However, no arrests could be made in connection with the incident.
Protesting against the CPI-M’s attack and the failure of law enforcement to bring attackers to book, the Congress today observed a 12-hour bandh in Habra. Most markets remained closed, buses and auto rickshaws stayed off the road. Irate Congress supporters today blocked railway tracks at Habra and Guma railway station disrupting train services for nearly two hours in Seahdah-Bongaon section. Police detained a few Congress supporters for forcibly closing shops in Habra. Accusing police of acting under the instruction of the CPI-M, Congress leader Mr Abdul Hamid Mondal said: “Instead of arresting the CPI-M cadres, police have detained three Congress supporters who were assaulted by CPI-M goons.” Local CPI-M leaders have denied charges and said that a brigade of Congress cadres attacked the Baogachi village last night. “When villagers and CPI-M cadres put up stiff resistance, congress backed criminals started assaulting villagers forcing our men to retaliate,” said a local CPI-M leader.
“The CPI-M launched its first attack on breakaway CPI-M cadres just after the polls were over on Friday night. Similar attacks were launched on Saturday night as well. We had submitted a memorandum to the police yesterday demanding a crackdown on the attackers,” said Mr Mondal.
“They attackers fled when police reached around 9 p.m.,” said Mr Narayan Saha, a Congress leader.

Two CPM groups clash (The Statesman, May 1 2006)

Tags:

• INTRA-COMMUNIST-CLASHES
• CPM
• COMMUNIST-CRIMES
• INTER-PARTY-CLASHES
•