WB: CPI(M) Rally Attacked in Medinipur Allegedly by TMC Sheltered Miscreants

West Bengal:  A rally by Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPI(M) -- was allegedly attacked in West Bengal's  Paschim Medinipur on Tuesday despite the police administration's knowledge of the procession. CPI-M’s West Medinipur district committee had given a call to protest against the corruption of the ruling party in the state and were to submit a memorandum to the District Magistrate. 

It is alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) sheltered miscreants who attacked the protestors. 

At 11:30 am, a huge procession of thousands of people started from the Vidyasagar Hall Maidan in Medinipur towards the District Magistrate's office. The protestors demanded the arrest of all the corrupt leaders and confiscation of all illegal assets.

A large police force surrounded the area around the District Magistrate’s office. The area was also heavily barricaded to stop the protestors from entering the DM’s office.

The first attack came at Supa Crossing in Keshpur where local TMC miscreants started pelting stones at the bus of CPI-M workers by blocking the road, said some rally participants. Two party workers from Kshirpai, Abdul Sattar and Hirak Roy, were beaten. Two other workers- Nanda Santara of Chandrakona and Mani Shankar Giri of Medinipur were also injured. Many workers were also wounded in the Ghatal area. A total of nine CPI-M workers were injured in various incidents of violence that spread throughout the day, the party said.

CPI-M sources said the police stopped the procession as it entered Medinipur city and  allegedly lathi-charged the protestors. However, the procession could not be stopped. On the other hand, the CPI-M workers broke the barricade, and entered the administrative office of the District Magistrate. After prolonged sloganeering , a five-member delegation submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate.

CPI-M state secretary Mohammad Salim, addressing the large rally outside the DM’s office, said: “The campaign to make Bengal free from corruption has started. Those who are attacking today's rally, are the guards of thieves. Thousands of complaints have been submitted to us by common people against Trinamool and BJP leaders regarding illegal assets. The list is being prepared. It will be released soon."

"We are fighting with the red flag demanding to put the thieves in jail. The job of the police is to catch thieves. Instead, they are stopping protesting people. Why? The promise to get rid of corruption is clear in how the people of Medinipur have participated. The entire state must be freed from the hands of thieves. These two parties, Trinamool and BJP are running on mutual understanding,” Salim alleged.