Residents of violencescarred BhatparaKankinara-Jagatdal belt are blaming both the Trinamul Congress and the BJP for the nightmarish situation they have been going through since 19 May, the day when the Lok Sabha polls at Barrackpore were held.

A turf war is being fought after most of the local offices of the TMC were taken over by BJP activists soon after their party candidate Arjun Singh won from Barrackpore constituency. Mr Subir Bhattacharya, retired Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel living at East Ghoshpara Road at Bhatpara, alleged, “The situation here deteriorated fast after Madan Mitra, Trinamul candidate for the byelection to Bhatpara Assembly seat, along with some other outsiders appeared on the scene, sparking off tension.”

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After a lull of about a week since the end of June, incidents of hurling bombs are being reported again in different parts with direct involvement of the two parties, Mr L Bhattacharya, a local travel agent said. Trinamul and BJP leaders unleashed a war of words even as the battle for area domination began.

“More than 1,500 people belonging to our party are unable to return home lest they are attacked by BJP-backed goons and we are trying to bring them back to their respective residences at Bhatpara and Jagaddal areas with the help of police,” said Trinamul MLA from Panihati, Nirmal Ghosh who has been asked by party chief, Mamata Banerjee to look after the poltical situation in Barrackpore. “People who are blaming me for fuelling tension in the area are not common people.” Trinamul Congress leader, Madan Mitra said.

“They are being influenced and motivated by the BJP and as I was a TMC candidate there for the by-election and did not go there as an individual. I am always trying to restore peace in Bhatpara and adjoining areas,” Mitra claimed. “Last night, violence erupted again with yet another death of a miscreant, Bhim Saw, who was the right hand man of Arjun and involved in 18 murder cases. He died in an encounter with police on Friday,” said state food minister Jyotipriyo Mullick.

“Using Bhim Shaw and other criminals Arjun brought from Bihar and Jharkhand as his security personnel, he unleashed violence at Bhatpara, Jagaddal, Kakinara and many other places” the minister said. “Police have strengthened its vigilance to nab these criminals,” Mr Mullick, a member of the delegation of the Trinamul Congress who visited Bhatpara last month added. “Bhim Shaw died of police firing, not in encounter.

The TMC along with police is sponsoring reign of terror among people in the entire locality as only BJP workers are being roughed up by police while criminals backed by TMC are being released from jails.” the newly elected BJP MP Arjun Singh, claimed.