Clashes erupt soon after BJP delegation visits violence-hit Bhatpara, several injured

West Bengal’s Bhatpara remains tensed as fresh clashes erupted on Saturday after a 3-member delegation of BJP leaders, including union minister SS Ahluwalia, visited the town. Several people were injured in the incident. According to reports, rival groups violated Section 144 following which the police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The incident happened moments after the BJP delegation - comprising BJP MPs S.S. Ahluwalia, Satya Pal Singh, and Vishnu Dayal Ram - left the area after their scheduled visit. As the delegation left, two groups, one led by the BJP and other by Trinamool Congress, engaged in pitched battle as both sides hurled countrymade bombs and stones at each other.

#WATCH West Bengal: Police use baton to remove locals from the spot in Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas, as a BJP delegation visits the area. pic.twitter.com/wyE7vdJOq6

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2019

The delegation visited the house of the two deceased - Rambabu Shaw and Dharambir Shaw - and said the bereaved families would be given financial aid of Rs 10 lakh each.

"When the clash between two groups took place, police baton charged one group and shot at the other. We want to know who took that decision? Who was behind this conspiracy? There should be a thorough probe into this. We will submit the report to (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and apprise him of the on-ground situation here," Ahluwalia said.

Accusing the state's ruling Trinamool Congress of indulging in constant violence even after the Lok Sabha 2019 elections, the BJP lawmaker from Asansol-Durgapur parliamentary constituency said this is unfortunate that the poor people are being killed.

Two people had died and seven others injured in clashes in Bhatpara between the groups suspected to be attached to Trinamool and BJP on Thursday. Section 144 has been imposed by the administration in the wake of the clashes.