At least four people were killed and five injured in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district after BJP and Trinamool Congress workers clashed over removing party flags. The dead include three BJP workers and one TMC activist.

The violence apparently broke out over hoisting the BJP party flag. Bullets were fired and sharp weapons were used in this small town 65 km from Kolkata. The Bengal BJP has confirmed three of their supporters were killed.

In a tweet, the party said, “She is getting desperate with each passing moment as she loses peoples' support. In her bid to retain power at any cost, killing opposition party members is the new normal in Bengal.”

The BJP identifies the deceased as Pradip Mondal, Tapan Mandal and Sukanta Mondal. Pradip was a mandal president while the other two were shakti pramukhs. The TMC worker killed has been identified as Qayum Molla. Reports are trickling in that the block development officer of Sandeshkhali area has also sustained injuries. The clash broke out on Saturday evening.

This is the first major clash between the two parties after the Jai Shri Ram row. The BJP got a stunning 18 seats in Bengal, a state where it was virtually non-existent even a few years ago.

Source: India TV, My Nation

BDST: 1140 HRS, JUN 9, 2019
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