Man killed In Clash Between Two Groups Over Opening Quarantine Centre In West Bengal

A man was killed in a clash between two groups of villagers allegedly over the opening of a quarantine centre in a village school in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Saturday night. According to locals, it all started after some government officials reviewed the proposal to set up a quarantine centre at Talibpur village under Parui police station. The situation turned violent and the groups resorted to firing and hurling bombs indiscriminately.

“A clash broke out between two groups of villagers. Prima facie a man succumbed to bomb injuries,” Superintendent of Police Shyam Singh said.

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A large police force has been deployed in the village where the situation remained tense but under control, he said. The police, however, did not say anything about the reason behind the clash.

Local sources claimed that the administration has decided to set up a quarantine centre for suspected COVID-19 cases at a school in the village and it was not liked by a section of villagers while others were in favour of it.

An altercation on the issue between members of the two groups led to a clash and a middle-aged was killed, they said.

Earlier, stones were thrown at quick response teams in South 24 Parganas and West Midnapore districts when they stopped people from assembling.

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In two incidents at the Bhangore area of South 24 Parganas and Goaltore in West Midnapore, police personnel were beaten up when patrolling teams stopped youngsters from gathering. A sub-inspector, two assistant sub-inspectors, and six constables were injured in the two incidents. Five persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the Bhangore incident, while no arrests have so far been made for the West Midnapore incident.