3 dead in arson, clashes in post-poll Bengal; EC directs cops to take strict action

Post-poll violence in West Bengal continued for a second day, with killings, arson and vandalism reported across several districts. The clashes triggered rival accusations, police deployment and an Election Commission order for zero tolerance.

In Short

• Arson and vandalism were reported at multiple Trinamool offices across Bengal
• A fire at one office spread to a nearby cake shop
• BJP leaders urged restraint and warned against violence in the party's name

Two days after the results, West Bengal remains on edge as post-poll violence leaves three dead, with killings reported from Kolkata, Birbhum and North 24 Parganas, and the TMC and BJP trading blame over the incidents.

On Tuesday night, allegations surfaced of vandalism and arson at several Trinamool Congress (TMC) offices in the Asansol industrial region and other parts of the state.

One office was set on fire, triggering panic as the blaze spread to a nearby cake shop. There were also local reports of TMC offices being painted saffron in areas such as Raniganj, Burnpur and Barabani.

This came even as Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya repeatedly appealed for calm, warning that any party member indulging in loot, arson or violence would be expelled, and urging authorities to act.

The BJP has also raised concerns over an alleged influx of individuals from other parties claiming affiliation, stressing that membership cannot be self-declared and requires formal approval.

MISCREANTS USING BJP NAME: PARTY

The developments come amid continued political volatility, with BJP leaders urging caution to prevent misrepresentation and maintain organisational discipline.

Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that some miscreants were trying to create unrest using the party’s name. In one instance, Santu Pan, a newly elected BJP MLA from Tarakeshwar in Hooghly confronted the police, urging them to arrest those wearing saffron gulal and assaulting people.

In another message, he warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone spreading unrest in the BJP’s name.

On Tuesday, two political workers, one from the BJP and one from the Trinamool Congress, were killed in separate incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal.

The deaths came amid clashes, allegations by both parties, and reports of vandalism at party offices in several parts of the state.

BJP worker Madhu Mondal died after he was allegedly beaten up by TMC workers in New Town on Tuesday evening, while TMC worker Abir Sheikh was hacked to death earlier in the day in Birbhum’s Nanoor, according to police, PTI reported.

EC ORDERS ZERO-TOLERANCE ACTION

The Election Commission later directed the West Bengal chief secretary, the director general of police and central armed police forces to enforce a "zero-tolerance" approach to post-poll violence.

In New Town, Mondal was allegedly attacked after an argument as a BJP victory procession was passing through the Bhalliguri area, a senior police officer said. He was taken to hospital and was declared brought dead.

His death led to attacks by BJP activists on the houses of TMC workers in the area and a subsequent road blockade. Central forces were deployed to restore normalcy, the officer said.

Earlier in the day, Sheikh was killed in a clash in Nanoor. A senior police officer said Sheikh, a member of the TMC's Nanoor Anchal Committee, was hacked to death during an argument with "another group" at Santoshpur village under Nanoor.

Sheikh died on the spot, while another person, whose identity was not known, was injured. Police reinforcements were rushed to the area as tension prevailed, the officer added.

TMC MLA-elect from Nanoor Bidhan Majhi claimed Sheikh was an active party member and was killed by BJP "goons". BJP leader Shyamapada Mondal denied the allegation and said no BJP worker was involved in the attack, adding that the police should conduct a free and fair investigation to identify those responsible.

TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh shared a video of the body and described it as "horrifying, chilling".

In a post on X, she wrote, "TMC worker killed in widespread violence". The TMC, on its official X handle, said there had been a "brutal murder of our party worker in Birbhum's Nanoor" and added, "Modi's idea of poriborton begins. Deceased name Abir SK."

In another post, the party alleged that an elderly woman was attacked by BJP workers in Alipurduar town and said she had suffered multiple injuries, including on the head, while attaching a purported image. India Today could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos.

Reports of violence and vandalism came in from other places as well. In Tollygunge's Bijoygarh-Netajinagar area, the election office of TMC candidate and former minister Aroop Biswas was vandalised by a mob.

Some people in the crowd were seen kicking a broken hoarding before leaving. At Ruby Crossing in Kasba, the office of TMC councillor Sushanta Ghosh was ransacked by a crowd carrying BJP flags.

In the Panihati Assembly constituency, where the mother of the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder victim, Ratna Debnath, defeated TMC's Tirthankar Ghosh by 28,836 votes, a TMC office was taken over overnight after a mob vandalised the room and tore down posters and hoardings. The party also alleged that its office in Murshidabad was violently attacked, and said its candidate in Udaynarayanpur in Howrah, Samir Panja, had been assaulted.

In Maniktala in north Kolkata, TMC candidate Shreya Pande shared a clip on social media showing a middle-aged party leader with his shirt soaked in blood and alleged that he was her election agent, beaten up by BJP workers after the counting of votes. Pande lost the seat to BJP's Tapas Roy by 15,644 votes.

In North 24 Parganas's Sandeshkhali, three police officials, including Nyajat police station OC Bharat Purkait, were shot during a late-night patrol in Bamangheri. Miscreants opened fire amid ongoing political tension, injuring officers and two central force jawans. The wounded are under medical supervision, while security forces have launched raids to trace those responsible

The TMC also posted a video on social media that it said showed its office in Siliguri being set on fire, though India Today could not independently verify the footage. West Bengal Police said TMC offices in Tollygunge and Kasba in Kolkata, and in Baruipur, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Howrah and Baharampur, had been vandalised by mobs since Monday afternoon, reported news agency PTI.

On social media, multiple viral videos showed mobs carrying bamboo sticks and lathis chasing people whom the TMC identified as its workers.

The party also alleged that "flag-bearing BJP thugs" were going door to door threatening non-vegetarian shop owners and biryani sellers, asking them to shut down, relocate and remove their names.

Condemning the incidents, the TMC said on X, "The BJP has shown its true colours right after coming to power."

- Ends
Inputs from Tapas Sengupta and agencies