Kolkata: Violence erupts in Howrah over Covid crematorium

HOWRAH: Police had to fire teargas shells and resort to a lathicharge in Howrah’s Bagnan on Sunday as hundred-odd locals resisting an effort to set up a Covid crematorium fought pitched battles with police.
While Trinamool Congress blamed BJP for instigating the violence at a time when everyone should lend a hand to fight Covid, BJP claimed it was a local protest and the party had nothing to do with it.Three persons have been arrested.
The violence started after workers from Bangnan panchayat-2 went there to clean the crematorium. When around 100 locals stopped them, police intervened and tried to reason with them. The locals attacked police, prompting a lathicharge.
TMC Bagnan MLA Arunabha Sen said, “We cannot turn Bengal into Uttar Pradesh where bodies will be thrown on rivers. BJP had instigated locals. We strongly condemn BJP’s actions.”