---------------------------Violence has erupted in West Bengal ahead of the general elections, with multiple reports of clashes surfacing from various parts of the state, including South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad districts since Monday, as confirmed by state police officials and sources familiar with the situation.In Kumirmari, an island in the Sunderbans, clashes between workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) resulted in at least five people sustaining injuries. These individuals were subsequently taken to the Canning subdivisional hospital for medical attention, according to the police.A senior police officer from Baruipur police district, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “Two persons have been arrested. It was because of an old rivalry over some land dispute. The complaint we received doesnt mention that it was a political clash.”However, locals in the area provided a contrasting narrative, indicating that the clashes erupted between TMC and BJP workers over the hoisting of party flags. Animesh Mondol, a TMC zilla parishad leader, claimed, “BJP attacked our workers unprovoked. They even fired one or two rounds even though no one was hit.”Responding to these allegations, Bikash Sardar, a local BJP leader, countered, “Our workers were hoisting flags when TMC workers attacked us and fired at our workers. Luckily, they missed.”Meanwhile, in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas, a clash ensued between TMC and Indian Secular Front (ISF) workers concerning wall graffiti, resulting in injuries to at least five individuals, according to officers from the Polerhat police station.Another altercation took place in Berhampore, Murshidabad, where several injuries were reported. Police have arrested three individuals in connection with this incident, as confirmed by police officials.BJP leader Brindaban Dolui alleged, “TMC-backed miscreants attacked BJP supporters. At least three persons were injured when TMC goons attacked the houses of our supporters and damaged a few motorcycles.”Contrarily, TMC panchayat samiti leader Aizuddin Mondol refuted these claims, stating, “The TMC is not involved. The TMC candidate Yusuf Pathan will win by more than 1.5 lakh votes. The BJP knows this and is hence spreading communal tension.”
