: In a reported clash between two communities in Usthi area in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, a local market was nearly destroyed on Thursday.
After an alleged scuffle between two groups of youth over the alleged teasing of a woman late on Wednesday night, a mob of over 1,000 people attacked a local market and vandalised several shops on Thursday.
Several shops in the market were set ablaze and multiple shots were fired in the air.
A large contingent of police had been had been deployed in the area.
The attackers also damaged houses in the area. The rampage reportedly went on for around three hours.
Local BJP leader and the party’s candidate from the Diamond Harbour constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections Abhijit Das accused Trinamool Congress leader and State Minister of Minorities Affairs and Madrasah Education Giasuddin Molla of “inciting communal tension in the area.”
Mr. Molla, however, termed it “totally false and baseless.” He ruled out the role of any “communal element” in the clash.
Minority Affairs Minister rules out communal element
