Rival groups clash in Kolkata locality over no power supply, Trinamool MLA beaten up, party blames BJP

Two rival groups in Kolkata's Metiabruz clashed on Tuesday over no electricity and water supply in the minority-dominated area. A Trinamool MLA was badly injured in the clashes and the party blamed BJP.

Two groups from different neighbourhoods in Kolkata’s Metiabruz area broke into violent clashes on Tuesday over restoration of electricity following the devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan. Trinamool Congress MLA Abdul Khaliq Molla was beaten up in the clashes and suffered injuries.

MLA Abdul Khaliq Molla was beaten up by locals in Nadial in Metiabruz in Kolkata. The Trinamool leader had to be rushed to a private hospital in Kolkata after receiving injuries in the violence. A brick directly hit his face, said his aides.

Locals in the minority-dominated area blocked roads protesting against unavailability of power and water supply even after 7 days since Cyclone Amphan ravaged the city.

According to ANI, clashes broke out between two slums after power supply was restored in one and the other was left untouched by the authorities. The fight between the two factions began as tensions soared over the road blockade. As the Trinamool MLA intervened to stop the fight, he was brutally beaten up.

The fight soon turned into a full-scale mob attack where shops and houses were vandalised.

When police personnel from the Nadial police station went to the spot to control the situation, they too, were attacked. Bricks were hurled by the violent mobs when the police finally countered the clashes by throwing bricks themselves.

Several other people along with MLA Molla were also injured in the incident.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim blamed BJP for the attack on elected representatives of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The mayor said, "The MLA was hit by bricks. He was taken to the hospital but the situation is under control. Two colonies had a dispute and we were trying to resolve the matter, but if you do not understand and throw the bricks at each other, then the third person who comes in between gets injured.”

“We had gone to talk to the people but it blew up due to the instigation of RSS and BJP. The reason was electricity, but it seems like all this was well-planned. The Trinamool leaders went there to fulfill their responsibility as MLAs, people didn't kill them but they got hurt in the fight between the two parties. RSS and BJP was trying to incite communal violence,” said Firhad Hakim.

Jamal Mustafa, an office worker with the local MLA said, “He got to know after I called him to inform and told him that the problem is increasing, I asked him to come immediately.”

“Sir immediately called DC sir. The local police administrative body was present there. Sir, his bodyguard and I were entering from the field side, we saw a huge crowd of RSS workers who attacked MLA sir. His bodyguard left the car immediately and picked him up. I was with them. His bodyguard, Biplob Mondol and I made him sit inside a police pilot car which was there and then, he was taken to Medica Superspecialty Hospital,” Mustafa said.

“He was taken to the emergency ward. There he was advised to do a CT scan as his condition was really bad. His ear was bleeding. He was injured. His hand, right leg and his face, his lips were injured. A brick had directly hit his face. Sir was taken to AMRI Calcutta and was admitted to the emergency wing,” the aide said.