Parking dispute leads to clashes in Kolkata, police resort to lathicharge

The incidental occurred astir the clip of Kali Puja immersions but the constabulary denied it had thing to bash with the event.

“An effort has been made connected societal media to make a fake communicative astir the incidental astatine Narkeldanga. No Kali Puja immersion procession was attacked. Issue was related to parking of a motorcycle which led to a combat betwixt 2 individuals and further escalated. However constabulary intervened timely and brought the concern nether control. The scheduled Kali Puja immersion procession was completed peacefully and without immoderate hindrance,” the constabulary station said.

Reacting to the news, Kunal Ghosh, erstwhile Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP, said: “This was a commotion successful a neighbourhood. Since the country has a colonisation from antithetic communities, constabulary took punctual enactment and controlled the situation. The incidental has nary narration to authorities oregon religion. The BJP, arsenic usual, is trying to dispersed tension.”

Scenes from the clashes successful North Kolkata. (Express Photo by Ravik Bhattacharya)

According to the sources, stones were besides allegedly pelted from neighboring buildings, injuring members of some groups. Immersion processions were halted arsenic radical started to panic and ran distant from the scene.

Eventually, a immense contingent of constabulary and the Rapid Action Force reached the country and began resorting to lathi complaint and firing teardrop gas.

According to eyewitnesses, the concern escalated suddenly.

“We were peacefully taking retired our procession. Our routes and adjacent different details were informed and ratified by the police. Suddenly we saw determination was a commotion. Stones and solid bottles were lobbed astatine us. We had to marque a U-turn and return,” said Avinava Basu, caput of Sastitala Barowari Puja Committee, 1 of the respective groups that were portion of the procession that day.

S Dutta, vice president of the Puja Committee, besides said it was unexpected.

“Police were precocious to travel and intervene. Some radical were injured,” helium said.

Immersions yet continued done a antithetic way nether constabulary protection.

“Police lobbed teardrop state shells and baton charges connected us. They lobbed teardrop state shells adjacent homes wrong the lanes. We conscionable gathered to spot what the commotion was about,” said a subordinate of the opposing group.

Police blocked Narkeldanga Main Road from some sides and placed pickets.

The BJP, however, called it an “appeasement authorities astatine its height”.

In a station connected X, Leader of Opposition successful the West Bengal Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said: “Maa Kali’s immersion procession attacked astatine Rajabazar; Kolkata. Narkeldanga Police failed to enactment and support the devotees. @CPKolkata if you are yet not waking up from your heavy slumber past petition for the deployment of CAPF instantly successful the involvement of communal & guiltless Bharatiyas, who clip and again are coming nether onslaught from the radicals successful WB.”