Political violence hits Howrah, Titagarh; 1 dies

HOWRAH: Two persons, including a bystander, were injured in a clash between Trinamool and BJP supporters in Howrah’s Liluah on Saturday morning as gunshots and bomb blasts shook the area. In Titagarh, a Trinamool activist, Rumani Khan (48), reportedly a close aide of a former Trinamool councillor, was shot dead in front of his family on Saturday evening.
The trouble in Howrah was reported a day after Trinamool formally expelled Bally MLA Vaishali Dalmiya from its ranks.Liluah, which is within the Bally assembly constituency, bore the brunt of the violence.
The unrest spilled onto the adjoining GT Road, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing shops to shut down. Those on the rampage, vandalized seven bikes parked along GT Road and even set a two-wheeler on fire.
One of the injured — Promode Dubey, who is reportedly a BJP worker — sustained a bullet wound to his foot. The bystander, Ashok Rai, was hit by bomb splinters. Cops said four persons had been arrested for the Liluah violence.
However, no arrest had been made till late evening for Khan’s murder. According to locals, the incident occurred around 6.30pm while the victim Rumani Khan(48), who is in the construction business, was resting in his house in Titagarh’s Goalapara. “Three masked youths stormed into the room and fired twice at him and fled. Khan’s daughter was injured.