Villager shot dead, 3 injured in TMC clash

Kolkata: A villager was shot dead while three others suffered bullet injuries in a clash due to faction feud within the Trinamul Congress at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas on Saturday morning. The victim, Nizamuddin Mollah (38), was a resident of Jeliakhali where several houses were torched during the clash.

Food supplies minister and Trinamul district president Jyotipriyo Mullick accused the BJP of unleashing the violence. The district BJP denied his allegations and put the blame on the ruling party. Trouble had been brewing in the area over the control of a plot of land and its boundary between two factions of the ruling party.

While one camp was led by Joynal Mollah, a close aide of Shibu Hazra, Trinamul block president of Sandeshkhali-II, another camp was led by Saifuddin Mollah. On Saturday morning both sides fought a pitched battle over the land. Bombs and bullets flew freely. At least two dozen huts were set on fire.

When a police team rushed to the spot, they were initially prevented from entering the warzone at Pakhirala and Paschimpara. The injured were rushed to Canning Sub Division Hospital in South 24 Parganas. Nizamuddin was declared brought dead there. Others were later shifted to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.

One of the injured, Safikul Mollah, who is a follower of Saifuddin, said, “Both sides are attached to the Trinamul. The dispute over the land has been underway for the last three years. Today Shibu’s followers went to the land and tried to fence it forcibly. When we tried to resist them, they, led by Joynal, opened fire on us.” District BJP leader refuted his charges. According to him, both sides belonged to the TMC.