West Bengal Violence: Police Injured, Vehicles Torched Amid Heightened Security – What Sparked the Unrest?

Violent clashes broke out in Maheshtala, West Bengal, on Wednesday, prompting heightened security in the area. The conflict arose between a mob and the West Bengal Police, resulting in injuries to five police personnel, including DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai. In the course of the violence, two government vehicles were vandalized and a motorcycle was set on fire. The clashes mainly occurred in the Rabindranagar-Akra area, where the police had to resort to lathicharge and use of tear gas to disperse the crowd. Kolkata Police later confirmed that 12 individuals were arrested and four cases were registered in connection with the incident.

Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Mithun Dey addressed the situation by stating that the authorities would take strict action against those responsible, regardless of their political or religious affiliations. He also mentioned that a few Hindu extremists were attempting to create unrest and assured that law enforcement would act firmly against them as well. The aim, he emphasized, was to prevent anyone from inciting violence and disturbing public peace.

The violence initially erupted near Rabindranagar Police Station when a crowd gathered and suddenly turned violent, pelting stones at the outnumbered police personnel. Reinforcements were sent, and police used force to scatter the mob. However, the crowd regrouped near Santoshpur, where another round of violence ensued, injuring more officers, including DC (Port) Rai. Eventually, riot police led by senior officers managed to disperse the mob and restore order. Patrolling in the area continues, and the injured officers are reported to be in stable condition.

The root cause of the clashes appears to be a land ownership dispute. According to local residents, the tensions began when a ‘tulsi mancha’ (a small platform used for religious purposes) was hastily built on land where a member of a minority community ran a shop. This individual was reportedly away during Eid, and the opposing group claimed that the shop was illegally constructed on temple land. Before authorities could intervene, confrontations between both groups escalated into full-blown violence, road blockades, and attacks on the police.

BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the victims of the violence were Hindus and called for the immediate deployment of central forces in the area to ensure the safety of residents. He mentioned that several police officers were injured and that police vehicles were set ablaze. Adhikari said he had contacted the SP of Diamond Harbour Police District and the DGP of West Bengal Police seeking permission to visit Maheshtala with another MLA to meet the affected Hindu families and shopkeepers. In a social media post, he described his visit as a gesture of solidarity and a step toward ensuring the grievances of victims are addressed.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, however, refuted the idea that the incident reflected a broader breakdown in law and order. He called the violence unfortunate and condemnable but maintained that it was an isolated incident. He praised the police for acting responsibly and refraining from taking steps that could have worsened the situation.