Police lathicharge BJP workers after clash in Bengal’s Cooch Behar

Police lathicharged BJP workers in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar after they blocked a national highway while observing a 12-hour bandh to protest against the death of a party member.
Police in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar lathicharged workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party for clashing against TMC workers on Tuesday. Visuals posted by news agency ANI show police dispersing workers from both parties after the fresh clash.
The clash started after BJP workers blocked the national highway during a 12-hour bandh called by the party following the death of a worker in the district. Soon after the clash started, police reached the spot and lathicharging them in an effort to clear the area.
BJP had called for the 12-hour bandh on Wednesday after its worker was allegedly beaten to death during an inter-club clash.
The incident occurred during the immersion of idols of Goddess Kali in Tufanganj area. When BJP booth secretary Kalachand Karmakar tried to pacify the clashed, he was beaten up. Karmakar later collapsed on the ground and was declared dead at a hospital where he was taken, said a senior police officer.
Karmakar’s wife had alleged that he was beater with bamboo sticks. The BJP has alleged that the TMC was behind the incident and called for a 12-hour bandh in Tufanganj today.
Mamata Banerjee’s TMC party, however, denied the charge. A TMC leader from the area said that the BJP is trying to politicise the matter and added that the incident occurred due to a local dispute.
Meanwhile, police have arrested one individual in connection to the incident and a probe is underway.