Trinamool, BJP now clash in Asansol and Ranaghat

ASANSOL/RANAGHAT: The faceoff between BJP and Trinamool continued in West Bengal on Friday, with two such instances reported from Asansol and Ranaghat .


In Asansol, members of BJP’s youth wing clashed with police after they laid siege to Asansol Municipal Corporation demanding better civic services and elimination of corruption.

Police said they had not given permission for the protest by BJP.

Around 12.30pm, a procession of BJP workers tried to reach the corporation office via Girija More and breached two barricades, among several police set up in Asansol city to deter protesters.

“The protesters started hurling glass bottles and clashing with police. Initially, we tried to disperse them with mild lathicharge. But more people joined them. So we had to use tear gas. Two police personnel were injured,” a police officer said.

BJP, however, claimed the police action was unprovoked. “Several of our supporters were injured when police and Trinamool workers attacked us. We were protesting peacefully but cops started using lathis,” said Lakahan Ghoroi, BJP district president.

Police deployment in several pockets of Asansol city included personnel from Rapid Action Force and the combat force.

In Nadia’s Ranaghat, youths from Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and BJP’s Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed inside Ranaghat College. “We prevented ABVP members from entering as they were not enrolled in our college,” principal Arup Maity said.

The clash broke out when TMCP members tried to help college security guards prevent ABVP members from entering the campus. “Our members were all outside. TMCP youths hurled bombs at us,” ABVP leader Abhijit Biswas alleged.

TMCP leader Subhajit Ghosh countered that “the clash broke out after ABVP members started hurling bricks at us from outside the college gate”. He added: “We went to submit a deputation to the principal. We were protesting against functioning of the Trinamool-controlled college union. Unions in all colleges have been suspended (since elections have not been held). So, how can Ranaghat College be an exception?”

The principal said: “I will inquire into their allegation that the union is functioning in this college.”

Residents said the college authorities called in police to control the clash that broke out around 12.30pm. A team from Ranaghat police station resorted to a lathicharge on the clashing TMCP and ABVP members, they added. Police also fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, they said. The situation was brought under control by 1pm.