West Bengal: Three killed, 17 injured in clashes over formation of panchayat board

At least three people were killed and 17 others injured following violent political clashes over the formation of a panchayat board in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, police said on Wednesday.

The two groups, allegedly belonging to the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), hurled bombs and fired bullets at each other in North 24 Parganas district’s Amdanga Block on Tuesday last night, leading to the death of three persons, the police said.

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Two people were arrested and 12 others detained in connection with the violence, the police said, adding the situation was now under control.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed in the disturbed areas, the police said.

North 24 Parganas district Trinamool Congress president Jyoti Priya Mallick claimed that two of the deceased were members of his party, adding 15 TMC workers were injured in the clashes.

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While, Mallick accused the CPI-M and the BJP of resorting to violence saying the police would unearth all the illegal arms and weapons which were smuggled in from Bangladesh, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the politics of terror and violence was “patronised by the ruling party and it was a daylight murder of democracy”.

Since Monday, four people were killed and several others injured following clashes in North Dinajpur, Malda and Purulia districts.

(With inputs from PTI)