Two killed in clash during anti-CAA protest in Bengal’s Murshidabad

A clash erupted during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Wednesday (January 29), resulting in the death of two persons and injury to one. It occurred after an argument broke out between the two sides in Jalangi during the demonstration, police said.

According to the police, a scuffle broke out between the local TMC leaders and residents’ forum ‘Nagarik Mancha’, which was observing a shutdown in the area against the amended citizenship law and the proposed countrywide NRC.

The residents’ forum was asked to withdraw the shutdown and the situation turned violent as both sides came to blows and hurled bombs at each other. Several two-wheelers and cars were damaged and set on fire during the clash.

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Local TMC MP Abu Taher denied the party’s involvement in the clash and alleged that the violence was by Congress and CPI(M) supporters. “I have requested the police to look into the incident. The culprits should be immediately arrested,” he said.

Senior Congress leader and MLA Manoj Chakraborty said that the party was not involved in the incident and demanded judicial inquiry into it. “The injured have been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital here,” the police said. The district had witnessed violence and arson during the anti-CAA protests across the state in December last year.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary blamed the “TMC goons” for disrupting the protests and triggering violence. “The locals of Sahebnagar were protesting peacefully against the CAA. Suddenly, TMC goons attacked them with bombs. At least four people sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital,” he said.

West Bengal became the fourth state after Left-ruled Kerala, and Punjab and Rajasthan, where the Congress is in power, to have passed a resolution on January 27 against the CAA. The state assembly had on September 6, 2019, passed a resolution against NRC.

(With inputs from agencies)

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