We can be pretty sure this was a one-sided affair initiated by the communists.....
<b>BJP man burnt alive to avenge CPM leaderâs murder</b>
Statesman News Service
GOPIBALLAVPUR (Midnapore West), May 23. â Adikanta Dolui (45), Satra gram panchayat secretary and BJP loyalist, was burnt alive by a mob allegedly backed by the CPI-M at Birsachowk Bazar in Gopiballavpur yesterday. Around 40 shops and houses were robbed and set ablaze following the murder. The rampage was reportedly the fallout of the murder of senior CPI-M leader and the partyâs Gopiballavpur local committee secretary, Ardhendu Satpati, near Birsa
Bridge around 1.30 p.m. yesterday.
An hour after Satpatiâs killing, about 1,000 men, armed with bows, arrows, tangi and knives, raided homes and shops belonging to BJP supporters at Birsachowk Bazar in search of Satpatiâs killers. A scared Doloi had taken refuge in the house of one Mr Sudhir Das. The men dragged Doloi out of Mr Dasâ house, chopped off his limbs and set him on fire after sprinkling petrol on him from the tank of his two-wheeler parked nearby, eyewitnesses said. The murder took place in the marketplace on Gopiballavpur-Hatibari Road.
The mob then set fire to about 40 shops and houses after robbing them. Several two-wheelers and bicycles parked in the market were destroyed in the blaze. The police posted in the market reportedly watched in silence. âAll the crimes, including Doloiâs murder, were virtually committed under police escort,â alleged Mr Nityananda Doloi, brother of the deceased. No one has been arrested though 12 BJP supporters were apprehended today from their native village, Tikaetpur, only a kilometre away, for Satpatiâs murder, Mr Prasanta Mahapatra, BJP district committee vice-president, alleged.
On getting the news of his brotherâs death, Mr Doloi and others rushed to Birsachowk Bazar from Tikaetpur. But the police chased them away with sticks and tried to intimidate the women, including Doloiâs widow, by assaulting them. When they resisted, the police opened fire in the air, Mr Doloi and Mr Mahapatra, who lives in Tikaetpur, said. âEven my brotherâs widow was not allowed to see or touch her husbandâs body,â Mr Doloi said.
All houses were found locked at Tikaetpur. Apprehending police torture, residents had fled their homes. The BJP vice-president claimed that five of their party workers went missing since yesterdayâs violence. However, Mr Sadhan Mandal, DIG, Midnapore Range, who accompanied the Midnapore SP, Mr Praveen Kumar, to the spot last evening, denied allegations that the Birsachowk violence occurred in police presence. He said no arrest could be made as no complaints were received from Doloiâs widow or any relative.
However, Mr Doloi said they were not allowed by the police to go out of the village to lodge complaint with the Gopiballavpur police station which is 18 km away.
At Pachiara in Kesiary, five houses, belonging to Trinamul supporters, were set ablaze allegedly by CPI-M cadres when they took out a victory procession in the area yesterday.
Three CPI-M men were arrested.
<b>BJP man burnt alive to avenge CPM leaderâs murder</b>
Statesman News Service
GOPIBALLAVPUR (Midnapore West), May 23. â Adikanta Dolui (45), Satra gram panchayat secretary and BJP loyalist, was burnt alive by a mob allegedly backed by the CPI-M at Birsachowk Bazar in Gopiballavpur yesterday. Around 40 shops and houses were robbed and set ablaze following the murder. The rampage was reportedly the fallout of the murder of senior CPI-M leader and the partyâs Gopiballavpur local committee secretary, Ardhendu Satpati, near Birsa
Bridge around 1.30 p.m. yesterday.
An hour after Satpatiâs killing, about 1,000 men, armed with bows, arrows, tangi and knives, raided homes and shops belonging to BJP supporters at Birsachowk Bazar in search of Satpatiâs killers. A scared Doloi had taken refuge in the house of one Mr Sudhir Das. The men dragged Doloi out of Mr Dasâ house, chopped off his limbs and set him on fire after sprinkling petrol on him from the tank of his two-wheeler parked nearby, eyewitnesses said. The murder took place in the marketplace on Gopiballavpur-Hatibari Road.
The mob then set fire to about 40 shops and houses after robbing them. Several two-wheelers and bicycles parked in the market were destroyed in the blaze. The police posted in the market reportedly watched in silence. âAll the crimes, including Doloiâs murder, were virtually committed under police escort,â alleged Mr Nityananda Doloi, brother of the deceased. No one has been arrested though 12 BJP supporters were apprehended today from their native village, Tikaetpur, only a kilometre away, for Satpatiâs murder, Mr Prasanta Mahapatra, BJP district committee vice-president, alleged.
On getting the news of his brotherâs death, Mr Doloi and others rushed to Birsachowk Bazar from Tikaetpur. But the police chased them away with sticks and tried to intimidate the women, including Doloiâs widow, by assaulting them. When they resisted, the police opened fire in the air, Mr Doloi and Mr Mahapatra, who lives in Tikaetpur, said. âEven my brotherâs widow was not allowed to see or touch her husbandâs body,â Mr Doloi said.
All houses were found locked at Tikaetpur. Apprehending police torture, residents had fled their homes. The BJP vice-president claimed that five of their party workers went missing since yesterdayâs violence. However, Mr Sadhan Mandal, DIG, Midnapore Range, who accompanied the Midnapore SP, Mr Praveen Kumar, to the spot last evening, denied allegations that the Birsachowk violence occurred in police presence. He said no arrest could be made as no complaints were received from Doloiâs widow or any relative.
However, Mr Doloi said they were not allowed by the police to go out of the village to lodge complaint with the Gopiballavpur police station which is 18 km away.
At Pachiara in Kesiary, five houses, belonging to Trinamul supporters, were set ablaze allegedly by CPI-M cadres when they took out a victory procession in the area yesterday.
Three CPI-M men were arrested.