Congress activists clash with West Bengal police in Kolkata

Kolkata, July 29 (ANI): Clash erupted between policemen and Congress party activists here on Tuesday while they were demanding action against police officials allegedly involved in a recent attack on party deputies in Mangalkot region of Burdwan district of West Bengal.

Eight party legislators were injured on July 15 in an attack allegedly by activists of Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI(M), in Mangalkot.

Hundreds of activists of Congress party's youth-wing marched towards Lalbazar police headquarter, raising slogans demanding action against erring police officials.

Amitava Chakrabarty, President, youth-wing of Congress party, said policemen baton charged them and stopped them from entering the police headquarters.

"Our party supporters are being attacked there till now. To protest against this and because of the inefficiency of the police today we marched towards Lalbazar," he added.

Protesters said that Congress workers had met state officials after the Mangalkot incident and were assured of action against the police officials involved in the attack on legislators. But no action has been taken so far, protesters said.

Agitated protesters also burned effigy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee accusing inefficiency on the part of state government in taking acting against the guilty.

As per media reports National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has found fault with the police in providing security to Congress legislators. The Commission has reportedly asked the State government to give a report within 15 days.

The attack on Congress legislators led to violence and 12-hour-shutdown in the State thereby paralysing railway services and forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule flights. (ANI)