Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA: The assembly poll verdict in Bengal triggered a spiral of violence across the state, leaving at least four people dead, dozens injured and party offices ransacked, as rival cadres from Trinamool Congress and BJP clashed in multiple districts overnight. Two deaths were reported in Kolkata within 24 hours. In Beleghata, Trinamool poll agent Biswajit Pattanaik, 45, was found bleeding at his doorstep after stepping out following a phone call. Police suspect he was chased, tried to flee across rooftops and fell, though his family alleges he was dragged out and beaten. “They broke the door and assaulted him mercilessly. Neighbours were too scared to help,” a relative said. A murder probe is underway. BJP denied any role. “He fell on a tap. It broke and washed away his blood. That’s why family did not see blood at the spot, though he was bleeding from his nose and ears,” a policeman said. The killing revived memories of the 2021 post-poll murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar in the same locality, a case now under CBI probe. CBI named 20 suspects, including former Trinamool MLA Paresh Pal, in supplementary chargesheets, leading to arrests and judicial custody of even police officers in 2025. Hours later in New Town, about 12km northeast of the city centre, BJP worker Madhu Mondal, 46, died after a clash with Trinamool Congress supporters. Police said he was pushed and kicked during a confrontation over control of a party office. He collapsed and was declared dead at hospital. The accused fled as tensions flared, triggering vandalism of his home. Violence spread rapidly across Kolkata. Party offices were attacked, flags torn down and vehicles damaged from Behala to Kalighat and Shyampukur. In CM Mamata Banerjee’s Bhowanipur constituency, a councillor’s office was broken into and set ablaze. Across several wards, TMC offices were seized or defaced, with BJP flags hoisted. At University of Calcutta in College Street, clashes erupted as posters were torn down and student activists assaulted, leaving several injured. Rival groups traded blame. Police said the situation was “under control” and warned against misinformation online. Beyond the capital city, the violence cut a wider swathe. In Udaynarayanpur, about 35km southwest of Kolkata, BJP activist Jadav Bar, 45, was allegedly lynched. Police arrested four suspects, citing a possible personal dispute while probing political motives. Central forces have been deployed. In Nanoor, around 160km northwest of Kolkata, TMC worker Abir Sheikh, 45, was hacked to death. His family blamed BJP cadres. BJP rejected the charge, calling it factional rivalry. Fresh clashes were also reported in Jalpaiguri.
