Violence flares up again in Bhangar, conflict between ISF-TMC; 2 shot dead in South 24 Parganas

In the lead-up to the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, the state has been plagued by a series of violent incidents. Over the past few days, South 24 Parganas district has witnessed multiple episodes of unrest.

In Canning and Basanti, two separate firing incidents occurred, targeting Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders. Similar incidents took place in Kultali, where a TMC leader was shot.

Additionally, clashes and a bomb blast between TMC and Indian Secular Front (ISF) workers were reported in Bhangar.

The situation in Bhangar worsened with reports of house ransacking, necessitating a significant police presence. However, due to difficulties in gaining access to the affected areas, it took some time for law enforcement to restore control. The ISF has accused the police of bias, claiming that ISF personnel are being unfairly targeted for arrest.

South 24 Parganas district has been a focal point of tensions throughout the election period. The frequent conflicts between TMC and ISF workers have led to several casualties, with a total of five deaths reported thus far. In response to the escalating violence, central forces have been deployed in the district to ensure the security of the upcoming elections, scheduled for July 8.

The situation in Bhangar has been particularly volatile, with KISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui already under central security protection. Despite these measures, clashes between ruling party workers and opponents persist.

In another incident, a Trinamool candidate, Qutubuddin Gharami, was accused of being involved in a shooting in Kultali. The culprits were identified as members of the CPIM and SUCI parties. The police swiftly intervened and rescued the Trinamool candidate, who was then taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Similarly, in Basanti, violence erupted once again upon the governor's return from a visit to the area. At the Chowrangi intersection of the Nafarganj panchayat, shots were fired at Trinamool leader Dulal Mandal. Although Mandal narrowly escaped being hit, a supporter named Khagen Khutiya, also known as Faring, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.