ET NEWS

Kolkata: Several BJP and Trinamool workers were injured, including Officer-in Charge of Bow bazar Police Station, as violence erupted in central Kolkata's Girish Park area, with both BJP and Trinamool workers allegedly clashing with each other. Stones were pelted and a bus carrying BJP workers to the Prime Minister's Brigade rally was attacked and vandalized. This incident happened just ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s rally.Stones were allegedly hurled by both BJP and Trinamool workers, sources said. Meanwhile, a bus vandalized with BJP and TMC workers clashing with each other, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally at Brigade Parade ground. BJP claimed they were attacked with stones, just ahead of the PM's rally while crossing Girish Park area. Police were allegedly standing as mute spectators as violence unleashed, BJP workers claimed. “We were in the bus which was attacked with stones. We got injured,” a BJP worker said. A bus which was travelling by BJP workers from Baranagar, was vandalized. The driver said he was also beaten and injured. “Stones were hurled at the bus and the front glass was vandalized and I was attacked. They beat me as well,” the bus driver said.Trinamool Minister Sashi Panja claimed that stones were hurled at her residence even as flex and banners were removed and the BJP workers attacked her residence by hurling stones, while going to PM’s rally.”“Even I was attacked and stones were pelted at my house. They are murderers and goons who are going to the Brigade rally,” Panja claimed.BJP workers claimed that Trinamool Congress attacked them. A bus carrying BJP workers to Brigade Parade GroundViolence erupted as stones were hurled and vehicles were vandalized. TMC claimed the BJP workers attacked state minister Sashi Panja's house. Police tried to bring the situation under control. Panja said that she will sit for dharna as her party workers were attacked. "At least 50 TMC workers were injured. They have been hospitalized," TMC minister claimed."Political rallies cannot become a licence for violence. Today, stones were hurled at the residence of Hon’ble Minister Smt. Shashi Panja near Girish Park by @BJP4India-backed hooligans. Such attempts to create fear and disorder in Kolkata are unacceptable. Bengal’s people can clearly see what BJP’s “Poriborton” looks like," AITC wrote in X Handle.