1 dead in Trinamul-CPM clash

Hooghly (WB): One person was killed and six others including two policemen injured in a turf-war between activists of CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress on Thursday, police said.

While the dead was a supporter of Trinamool Congress, the four injured were CPI(M) supporters, they added.

Clashes started early on Thursday in three villages under Khanakul, Arambagh and Purshura police stations, police said, adding guns, bombs, bows and arrows, and other improvised firearms were used. Several houses were also ransacked.

Ananta Dalui, a 40-year-old agriculture labourer, was shot dead when he was working in a potato field at Chandraban village under Arambagh police station.

Sukomal Das, officer-in-charge of Khanakul police station, and a constable sustained bullet injuries when they went to Majhpur village, they said, adding both have been admitted to hospital.

Four villagers, stated to be CPI(M) supporters, were also shot and injured at Majhpur.

Superintendent of Police Satyajit Bandyopadhyay said a large contingent of police went to the troubled villages and brought the situation under control.

Claiming that Dalui was their supporter, Trinamool district general secretary Dilip Yadav alleged that armed CPI(M) goons attacked their party supporters at their houses. However, former Arambagh MP and CPI(M) state committee member Anil Basu denied the charges.