Fierce overnight clashes between Trinamool and CPM left three people dead at Amdanga, about 60 km north of Kolkata. Earlier this morning, a person with bullet injuries and rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Bombs and gun fire rang out last evening in the Taraberia area of Amdanga in North 24 Parganas when political rivals clashed over control of three panchayats.
Police rushed in but couldn’t enter some pockets of the area because roads had been dug up preventing vehicular movement.
A huge force was deployed this morning and has now dominated the area. The local police officer in charge has been transferred.
Many women and children spent the night in the fields for fear of further attacks. Dozens of crude bombs were seen lying around in peoples’ homes and outside when the police reached.
"The CPM and BJP people have AK- 47s here," said Jyotipriyo Mallik, a minister in Mamata Banerjee government and in charge of North 24 Parganas district.
The CPM has accused Trinamool Congress of using force and police help to prevent CPM from taking control of Taraberia panchayat.
With the support of one winning candidate from the Congress, BJP and independent, the CPM could form the board there.
The Amdanga clash is one of many across Bengal since the process of board formation at panchayats. .
At least eight people have died since Friday last week when Supreme Court lifted a stay on results of 20,000 seats that Trinamool Congress had won without contest.
Besides North 24 Parganas, two people each were killed in violence in Purulia and Malda. North Dinajpur reported one death.
Yesterday, Mamata Banerjee blamed CPM backed miscreants or 'harmad' who she claimed had joined the BJP.
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