BJP gheraos SP offices across Bengal over law & order

Kolkata, June 24 (IANS) In protest against the widespread violence in the state and attack on their party workers, the West Bengal BJP on Monday gheraoed offices of the Superintendent of Police (SP) across all districts.

Senior state BJP leaders led the party activists to hold demonstrations near SP offices in 34 places across the state, including two places in Kolkata, over deteriorating law and order situation.

A minor clash broke out between the saffron party workers and police in Bankura district after the agitators were stopped from getting near the SP office.

BJP activists broke the barricade and later held a demonstration near the office demanding prompt action against the state's ruling party leaders involved in "extortion and hooliganism".

"Those who have been extorting from people of Bengal must come out and say that they will not indulge in extortion and hooliganism," Basu said during a demonstration in Bankura.

Similar demonstrations were led by veteran BJP leader and state general secretary Pratap Banerjee in Asansol and Sayantan Basu in Basirhat.

The protests were held in the wake of widespread political violence across the state, including repeated clashes in North 24 Parganas district's Bhatpara where two persons were killed allegedly in police firing while five others sustained bullet injuries last Thursday.

A large contingent of police forces led by the new Barrackpore Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has been deployed in the area. As part of preventive measures, prohibitory orders under Section 144 are still in force in the trouble-hit Bhatpara and Jagaddal.

A three member central delegation of BJP visited the spot on Saturday and accused the police of the killings. The party has also demanded a CBI probe into the incident.