Kolkata, Oct 21 (IANS) Another book stall put up by CPI(M) came under attack during Durga Puja in Ashoknagar of North 24 Parganas district, said the police on Wednesday. A police officer was injured while trying to control the situation. A local BJP leader was arrested in connection with the incident.
The CPI(M) has once again accused the BJP of attacking its book stalls on the night of Navami (Tuesday).
According to the complaint, BJP workers tore posters and flexes from CPI(M) book stalls. Further allegations are that besides attacking the stalls, the board of Ganashakti newspaper which is the CPI(M) mouthpiece in West Bengal, and the permanent board for putting up party posters were also broken.
A quarrel had started over the incident. Later, it turned into a clash. Ashoknagar Police Station Sub-Inspector Ashish Roy, who arrived at the spot and tried to stop the clash, was attacked. His face was cut, resulting in massive bleeding. He was rescued and admitted to Ashoknagar State General Hospital.
In this incident, the police have arrested a local BJP leader named Biswajit Nag (45). The arrested person’s house is in area number 5 of Ashoknagar.
According to the police, a suo motu case has been registered and an investigation has been started. It is being investigated who else is involved in this clash and the attack on the cops. Police forces have been deployed at the spot to bring the situation under control.
Regarding Tuesday’s incident, CPI(M) leader and former Ashoknagar MLA Satyasebi Kar said, “Books teach people to understand the difference between right and wrong. They open people’s eyes. They teach them to recognise white as white and black as black.”
He alleged that a group of people had vandalised the book stall by tearing down posters and flexes. He also said, “If there is an ideological dispute, they should also open a book stall to counter us and express their views.”
The Left leader commented that everyone has the right to express their opinion in a democracy.
Local CPI(M) leader Shyamal Bose also condemned the incident. He said, “Those who are attacking the book stall are against books and knowledge.”
He said that a group of unruly people were causing such incidents.
So far, no reaction has been received from the BJP on this incident and on the arrest of its leader.
Earlier also, CPI(M) books stalls came under an attack in several places across the state including Kolkata and Nadia.
–IANS
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