Several injured and houses set on fire during political clashes in West Midnapore

Midnapore/Kolkata, July.19 (HS): Several people were injured, more than 25 houses and a few vehicles were torched after repeated clashes broke out between the supporters of Trinamool Congress and BJP over the control of Cherua Panchayat body in West Midnapore district today, forcing the police to open several rounds of fire.

Reports reaching the state police headquarters here this afternoon said following the recent take over of the local Panchayat body by BJP with the support of some new members,who left TMC and joined BJP, repeated clashes broke in and around Cherua Block during the past few days.

But this morning the intensity of clashes between the supporters of the rival parties crossed all limits when large number of TMC workers before leaving for Kolkata to attend the party’s Martyrs Day meeting on 21 July, attacked the houses of several BJP workers.

Besides attacking the inmates  of those houses with country made weapons, the miscreants set their houses on fire severely damaging each of them.

A number of motorbikes and scooters of  some BJP  workers were also burnt allegedly by the slogan shouting TMC workers before fleeing.

On being informed a strong contingent of police rushed to Cherua and first used lathis to disperse the warring crowd before reportedly opened several rounds of fire in the air to scare them.

However, none was injured in the police firing, the reports said and blamed the two warring groups for causing injury to several people whose number was yet to be determined.

In the melee all the 25 houses which were set on fire by the miscreants were either completely gutted or severely damaged in absence of any fire fighting equipment or Fire Brigade in the village area. All two wheelers belonged to BJP  supporters, were also completely burnt,the report said.

Since the ruling party workers had left the area for Kolkata to attend the Martyrs Day meeting, despite a search operation none could be arrested so far,the  police said adding that,however, a case of arson and violence was lodged in the local police station.

A  strong police camp was also posted at Cherua, about 45 km from the district headquarters of West Midnapore, to prevent recurrence of violence over the control of local Panchayat body or on any other issue, as tension was  prevailing there.