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Fresh clashes in Bhatpara after the visit of BJP central delegation

Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd

BJP activists agitate in front of the office of Barrackpore commissioner of police in North 24 Pargana | PTI

Several persons were injured as fresh clashes were reported in trouble-torn Bhatpara area in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Saturday as rival groups violated Section 144 imposed there.

Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The incident happened moments after a three-member BJP central delegation left the area after their scheduled visit.

The BJP central leadership had asked the team led by Ahluwalia, an MP from West Bengal, to visit Bhatpara. He was accompanied by MPs Satya Pal Singh and B.D. Ram, besides other state leaders.

As the delegation left, two groups, one led by the BJP and other by TMC, engaged in pitched battle as both sides hurled countrymade bombs and stones at each other.

Several persons were injured in the incident.

Bhatpara had witnessed clashes between rival groups suspected to be affiliated to TMC and BJP on Thursday in which two persons had died.

Earlier in the day, a joint delegation of CPI(M) and Congress headed by Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty visited the troubled areas of Baruipara, Jagaddal, Bhatpara. They demanded a CBI inquiry into the killings.

On Friday, the BJP leadership had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident to bring out the truth. A TMC citadel for long, Bhatpara has been witnessing frequent post-poll violence between the rival parties.