Rail services disrupted due to post-poll violence

Rail services were disrupted in West Bengal’s Sealdah division as post-poll violence erupted in the Bhatpara Assembly segment in North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday.

Despite prohibitory orders under section 144 imposed by the Election Commission in Bhatpara where Assembly by-election was held on Sunday, several clashes took place took place between the TMC and the BJP cadres during the day.

According to police sources, unidentified miscreants hurled bombs near the Kankinara railway station.

Even as passengers were running about for cover as armed miscreants were terrorising them, none were injured.

The locals staged a five-hour-long rail blockade starting from 8.43 am which led to several local trains being cancelled. Eastern Railway authorities, in a press statement, said that while seven local trains were cancelled, an equal number of trains ran on a truncated route.

Bhatpara witnessed intense violence on Sunday during the by-poll when 17 people were injured and several shops, houses and vehicles were damaged.