A three-member BJP delegation visited the trouble-torn Bhatpara area in West Bengal on Saturday and alleged that it was due to police firing that two persons lost their lives during clashes earlier in the week.
The delegation was led by former Union Minister and Bardhaman-Durgapur MP S.S. Ahluwalia. Newly-elected MPs and former police officers Satyapal Singh and B.D. Ram were the other team members. Party leaders of the State also accompanied them.
“We spoke to the family members and locals. We got portions of spent SLR (self-loading rifle) bullets used by the police on Thursday to shoot the BJP workers,” Mr. Ahluwalia said.
Two people were killed and 11 others injured in the town in North 24 Parganas district on Thursday after clashes broke out between two groups believed to be affiliated to the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“The police are saying they fired in the air. If they had done that, how can it hit humans?” he asked. “We will submit our detailed report to party president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He is concerned with the violence in the area,” he said.
The police and the ruling Trinamool called the observation baseless. Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said the BJP delegation’s visit was aimed at increasing tension in the area. “Section 144 is in force, but the BJP is visiting there. The police should have taken action against them for violating Section 144.”
A senior officer said the BJP leadership had taken permission for the visit.
Seeks CBI probe
Earlier in the day, a joint delegation of the CPI(M) and the Congress, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Abdul Mannan, visited the troubled areas of Baruipara, Jagaddal and Bhatpara. They demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of two persons.
The BJP leadership had also sought a CBI probe.
