This Article is From Nov 05, 2009

West Bengal: Mamata rally sparks off violence

Khanakul, West bengal: Khanakul in Bengal's Hoogly district is simmering after violent clashes on Wednesday between CPM and Trinamool workers before and after a rally held by Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee.

There are reports of CPM and Trinamool supporters hurling bombs at each other after the meeting ended.  

At the meeting, Mamata Banerjee claimed the CPI-M was importing Maoists from Nepal and providing them with arms to terrorise the people.

Earlier, on her way to Khanakul from Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee's convoy was briefly blocked by CPM workers.

The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse them. In retaliation, Trinamool supporters trying to reach the venue of the meeting attacked a CPM office in Kabley and set it on fire.

Tension has been brewing at Khanakul over the last couple of months but peaked last week when CPM and Trinamool workers clashed repeatedly.

A 70-year-old woman who was a CPM supporter and who was allegedly injured in a clash in September died in a Kolkata hospital on Wednesday.
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