Clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters in central Kolkata on Saturday, just half an hour before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, leaving a police officer and a saffron party leader injured, officials said.
Amid the violence, allegations of stone-throwing at West Bengal Minister Shashi Banga’s residence in Girish Park area also emerged.
The violence took place about 5 km from the rally venue as BJP supporters were marching towards the parade ground to attend the chief minister’s meeting, which marks the culmination of the state-level ‘parivartan yatra’ ahead of the Assembly elections.
According to eyewitnesses, supporters of both parties allegedly threw stones at each other and raised slogans, sparking tension in the area.
BJP leaders claimed that their supporters were attacked without provocation as they were heading towards the rally venue.
“Stones were thrown at us without any provocation. Abuses were also hurled at us,” a BJP activist told a Bengali news channel.
The BJP claimed that several vehicles were damaged during the clashes and party leader Tamagno Ghosh was injured in the incident.
Police sources said that the officer-in-charge of Bhubazar police station, Babaditya Naskar, was also injured while trying to control the situation.
TMC workers claimed that BJP supporters attacked the minister’s house while they were heading towards the brigade rally.
But the BJP rejected the charge and claimed that TMC activists pelted stones at their supporters as they passed through the area.
Some BJP leaders also claimed that the police initially remained “inactive” as the situation escalated.
Police forces immediately moved to the scene and were able to control the situation and disperse the clashes.
As the situation became tense, many shop owners quickly closed the doors of their stores.
