Two killed in West Bengal, Chidambaram concerned over violence

A man, Md Iqbal, was stabbed to death at Kamarhati under Belghoria police station in North 24 Parganas district with the Trinamool Congress claiming that he was a party supporter.

The police, however, said Iqbal and his assailant had stolen a cow a few days ago and had fallen out over the spoils. The assailant was arrested.In a separate incident, a CPI(M) supporter was killed when he tried to flee with a bag of bombs during a police raid at Shantipur, they said.

The police had raided a house looking for arms and bombs and when the man tried to flee with the bombs, one of them exploded killing him, they said.

Chidambaram told reporters in Agartala, "It is a matter of concern. I do not know whom to blame. Last night I have spoken to the West Bengal Governor to take all possible measures to stop violence there, because violence cannot be tolerated.

"There were three incidents after the elections. I have also spoken to Mamata Banerjee and Union Minister Mukul Roy about the violence and appealed to all political parties to stop violence. I think they would respond to my appeal."

In Hooghly district, Trinamool Congress workers attacked their own party office with bombs near the Arambagh bus stand injuring 10 TC men after they were told by party leaders to halt a raid on shop-keepers affiliated to CPI(M).

The irate group of TC workers armed with choppers led by minority cell chairman of Arambagh sub-division Akbar Ali attacked the party office and threw over half a dozen bombs, Hooghly Superintendent of Police Tanmoy Roychowdhury told reporters.
Among the ten injured in the attack were Arambagh Youth Congress president Md Selim, he said.

In West Midnapore district, villagers and the police seized 30 firearms from the houses of alleged CPI(M) supporters at 11 villages under Garbeta, Keshpur and Salboni police stations during the day, the sources said