A three-member BJP delegation led by Lok Sabha MP SS Ahluwalia visited West Bengal’s Bhatpara on Saturday which witnessed violence two days ago in which two persons were killed.
As the three-member delegation comprising SS Ahluwalia, Satya Pal Singh and VD Ram reached Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district, locals were seen on streets raising slogans of “Bengal Police haye haye”, “Mamata Banerjee haye haye”.
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The police resorted to using batons on the locals gathered on the streets.
On the team’s arrival, Ahluwalia said, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah is immensely saddened by the violence in Bhatpara. Such incidents are occurring only in West Bengal. We will talk to the concerned persons and submit a report to him”.
Violence erupted between two unidentified groups in North 24 Parganas district’s Bhatpara on Thursday following which police opened fire and deployed the Rapid Action Force amid the ongoing post-poll violence in West Bengal.
Two persons were killed while five others received bullet injuries.
The incident occurred hours before the state police chief was supposed to inaugurate a newly-constructed police station.
Prior to the inauguration, violence broke out in the area as miscreants resorted to bombings and also fired at each other. The police had to open fire and use tear gas to control the situation.
The police had claimed that they resorted to aerial firing.
However, BJP MP from Durgapur Ahluwalia said the police had deliberately shot them.
“The police shot them. They had held a press conference and said that they resorted to aerial firing. But if they did that, how did it enter the bodies of people? It’s unfortunate. Families of small vendors were finished,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
“Ahluwalia claimed that a 17-year-old boy was shot on his head by the police when he going to purchase something, while another vendor was also shot and died on spot,” he added.
“Police use batons for hooligans and bullets for innocents. It should be inquired,” he said.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had earlier blamed the Trinamool government in the state and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the clashes.
“Mamata Banerjee has lost her mental balance since the Lok Sabha elections. Clashes are taking place all over the state. I have got information that two people fell to police bullets,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
On Saturday, BJP workers staged a protest on the streets of Kolkata over the Bhatpara clashes.
Post-poll violence has been reported from various places of West Bengal after the BJP secured 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, just four less than that of the TMC.
Earlier this month, four people had lost their lives in post-poll clashes in Bhangipara, Hatgacha in North 24 Parganas.
