Bhangar violence: Banerjee asks police to identify 'outsiders'

Kolkata: A day after the clashes at Bhangar over the construction of a PGCIL sub-station, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday instructed the force to identify the "outsiders" who had provoked the people as scary incidents of violence were reported.

State police sources here said Banerjee held a high-level meeting with top police officers, including the Director General of police and Kolkata police commissioner during the day where she said no one should be allowed to provoke and law should be strictly enforced.

She has asked the police to spot the outsiders and get them arrested, the sources said.

When asked, Banerjee did not say anything about the meeting. A senior state police officer said properties at a police outpost were destroyed and a motorcycle was put on fire by agitating villagers this morning.

"Forces were withdrawn from the area but we are keeping an eye on the situation there," he said.

One person was killed and another injured at Bhangar area in clashes on Tuesday.

While the villagers claimed that police had opened fire on the protesters, police said the casualty took place as a result of shooting between two groups of protesters.

"There was no police firing. The police didn't fire a single shot," ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma had said.

There was an unconfirmed report of a second person dying in the crossfire.

State Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, when contacted, said the state government would "surely" hold a meeting with the agitated villagers and farmers after the situation "normalises".

"The situation is under control in Bhangar. Till now, there is no news of any second person dying there. And there is no news of any protests anywhere there also," he told PTI.

On compensation to the family of the deceased, Chattopadhyay said Banerjee was looking into the matter and would decide on it.