In WB’s Baduria, Cops & Locals Clash Over COVID-19 Relief Material
Three police personnel were injured in the clash.
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Three police personnel were injured in a clash that took place between locals and cops in West Bengal's Baduria city, part of the Basirhat sub-division of the state's North 24 parganas district on Wednesday, 22 April.
The locals were in protest, alleging that they'd not received relief materials amidst the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
The police reached the protest site, in Baduria's Daspara, on Wednesday morning in order to clear out the area.
However, local sources told The Quint that people turned on the cops when they arrived and started attacking them.
In the process, an officer-in-charge of the local police station was hit on the head. The police, thereafter, lathi-charged the crowd.
"The police urged the protesters to return to their homes and assured them that they will be delivered essential items. However, the protest went on, provoking the police to "use force", said a police officer to PTI.
State Food Supplies Minister, Jyotipriyo Mullick, also told the agency that the incident happened after a councillor told the local residents that they will be supplied with ration and relief material.
"After I came to know about the incident, I enquired about it and found that all families in the area have received the free ration being provided by the state government. The trouble happened after the local councillor, who promised some relief material in his personal capacity, failed to provide it to all the families," Mullick said, adding that he'd instructed the Block Development Officer to provide relief materials to those who need it.
The police has arrested several locals in regard to the incident.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI).
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