Violent clash in Durgapur over 'market association takeover'; central forces lathi-charge

Tensions escalated in Durgapur’s Sen Market following a violent attempt by alleged BJP supporters to take over the local traders' association office. The incident involved a physical assault on the association’s General Secretary, Sagar Saha, leading to widespread panic across the market area. To bring the situation under control, personnel from the Coke Oven Police Station and central forces were deployed, eventually resorting to a lathi-charge to disperse the agitated crowd and prevent further outbreaks of violence.

The victim, Sagar Saha, expressed deep frustration, stating that while many traders had supported the BJP in the recent elections, they are now facing intimidation from the same quarters. He emphasized that the market association is a non-political body comprising individuals from various political backgrounds and questioned the motive behind such a targeted attack. In protest, the Sen Market Traders' Association has announced an indefinite shutdown of the market, declaring that operations will not resume until the perpetrators are arrested.

Responding to the allegations, Durgapur West BJP MLA Lakshman Ghorui distanced the party from the violence, labeling the attackers as "fake" BJP members. He claimed that former Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, who recently switched sides, are responsible for creating unrest to tarnish the new government's image. Ghorui urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action against the culprits, while simultaneously appealing to the traders to reopen the market to avoid public inconvenience.