Kolkata, Mar 21: A Trinamool Congress supporter was killed during a clash by a group of assailants allegedly led by a party municipal councillor over a land dispute on the eastern fringes of Kolkata Wednesday, police said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered the arrest of the party councillor, while the opposition Left Front said after left cadres and the Congress, now sections in the Trinamool were becoming victims of the violence perpetrated by the ruling party.
"One person has been killed and some others injured in the clash related to a land dispute in the Dhapa area," city police control room sources told IANS.
Addressing a rally at Jhilimili in Bankura district, Banerjee said she has ordered the police to nab the councillor Shambunath Kow.
"This morning an incident took place at Dhapa. I immediately said the councilor has to be arrested. We don't know at whose bidding he did this. I have ordered the police to arrest him. A wrong is a wrong. Whoever does a wrong, will have to face the consequences. The party will also suspend him," she said.
The victim was identified as Adhir Maity. His daughter said that her father went to the spot following fervent requests after some people forcibly tried to "take possession" of a piece of land.
"My father lost his life as he protested. He was thrashed mercilessly. Councillor Shambunath Kow was present at the spot all through. He is behind this. We want his arrest and punishment."
Police said there was tension in the area. "Police picket has been posted and additional reinforcements sent."
Despite several attempts, Kow could not be reached for his version of the incident.
Hitting out at the ruling party, Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said: "We have been saying from the beginning that the attacks perpetrated by the Trinamool will not remain confined to the supporters of the Left Front. Congress, once an ally of the Trinamool, had not been spared and now a section of Trinamool Congress is also under attack."
The issue echoed in the assembly, and in a statement, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said the incident had happened after tension broke out over a dispute between two groups of people.
A scarcastic Mishra found contradiction in the remarks made by the chief minister and Chatterjee on the issue.
"The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, What the chief minister said is completely different from what the minister said in the assembly."
He told reporters while Banerjee ordered the arrest of the councilor, the minister made no reference to it in his statement.
