NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Violence mars repolling in Calcutta

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Several people, including policemen, were injured in a clash between Communist Party of India-Marxist and Trinamul Congress supporters in central Calcutta Monday.

Police fired eight rounds and resorted to tear gas shelling, but were outnumbered by the agitating mob.

The clash occurred in the afternoon during repolling in one of the booths in ward 64. The incident, which began as a verbal duel, was soon transformed into a bloody battle with CPI-M and Trinamul supporters hurling bombs at each other.

According to eye-witnesses, the police were outnumbered and helpless till additional reinforcements arrived. "A unit of the Rapid Action Force arrived and fired several rounds of tear gas. However, when this proved ineffective, the police fired eight rounds, which left a CPI-M worker injured," said a local resident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (headquarters) Nazrul Islam said police seized over a dozen crude bombs from the mob.

The CPI-M, however, accused the RAF of 'singling out' its workers and injuring its candidate S Roy and seven others.

Repolling was held in six booths of the Calcutta and Salt Lake municipalities, which went to polls on Sunday. Counting will begin tomorrow.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report