BJP-Trinamool clash in Barrackpore amid counting
The Barrackpore industrial area of North 24 Parganas has become heated due to the announcement of the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Today, Monday (May 4), a clash broke out between BJP and Trinamool Congress workers and supporters at the Rashtraguru Surendranath College counting center in Barrackpore. The situation reached such a stage that the security forces had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the agitated crowd and maintain order.
According to sources, a crowd of workers and supporters of different parties started gathering outside the counting center after the counting of votes began. As soon as the results started coming, arguments started between the two parties over the margin of victory and defeat, which quickly turned into scuffles and clashes. The college premises turned into a battlefield due to brick-and-stone pelting and scuffles. The barricades outside the centre were almost breached when the police and central forces deployed there swung into action. When baton charges were used to control the situation, supporters started running in all directions.
Although the chaos has subsided somewhat with the intervention of the security forces, extreme tension prevails in the entire area. Security at the counting centre has been beefed up several times and strict vigil is being maintained at the entry and exit points. The Election Commission and the local administration said that additional forces have been kept ready to avert any untoward incident and that although the situation is currently under control, the feeling of tension in the area has not subsided.
Source: ANI
