Clash over flag-hoisting in Hooghly: BJP observes 12-hour strike to protest party worker’s killing, six held

“We have arrested six people and detained several others. Investigation is on,” said a senior district police officer.

Pramanik was allegedly beaten to death on Saturday, following a clash over the hoisting of the national flag at an Independence Day event.

In protest, the state BJP announced a 12-hour bandh in the area, demanding the arrest of those involved in the incident. The BJP accused the TMC of murdering Pramanik. The ruling party denied the accusation, and claimed that the BJP worker’s death was a fallout of the saffron party’s internal feud.

According to local residents, the groups involved in the violence first pelted stones at each other, and then a clash with sticks broke out.

“They cannot stop the BJP like this by killing our workers. We condemn this incident in the strongest of terms. We will start a movement against this till the culprits are arrested,” BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said on Saturday.

TMC’s district president Dilip Yadav said, “They are trying to gain political mileage over this death. It is a fallout of their internal feud.”

Meanwhile, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed his concern about political violence in the state.

“I pray to the almighty that good sense prevails, Constitution is respected. 15th August was another painful day for me, political violence and killing was noticed over unfurling of the national flag. We are in a state of lawlessness, already situation is alarmingly worrisome,” the Governor said.

“It is my commitment to the people of West Bengal, I will do everything possible to ensure that democracy in the state flourishes, and democracy will flourish only if there is rule of law,” he added.

Dhankhar alleged that the police were acting in a manner, which was “seriously compromising” the activities of the Opposition.