Fresh violence erupted on Tuesday in Bhangar in West Bengal, which has been tense for the past several months over protests against setting up of a power grid. Two persons, including a woman, were injured in the violence allegedly committed by Trinamool Congress cadres. Those attacked are residents of Khamarait and Machibhanga villages.
Locals alleged that while one woman from Machibhanga sustained bullet injuries on the leg, a resident of Khamarait sustained injuries on the hand in a crude bomb blast during the attack.
“Around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, former MLA and Trinamool leader Arabul Islam led nearly 100 armed Trinamool goons and attacked the villagers. They also kidnapped Ketab Ali Mallik, 70, from Khamarait village,” a member of the Jomi, Jibika, Poribesh O Bastutantra Raksha Committee (land and livelihood protection committee) told The Hindu . Mr. Arabul Islam could not be reached for comments.
According to locals, “armed TMC cadres” were hurling bombs near the Haroa road adjoining Bhangar and there was tension in the area. On May 14, the villagers and police clashed.
Bhangar has been tense for the last couple of months when the villagers started an agitation against the setting up of a power grid in the area. The movement was fuelled by some TMC leaders who did not want the power grid to come up as they have already sold a large section of the land to the business community. As the movement gathered momentum, the TMC leaders lost control of it.
