Post-poll violence hits Bengal's Howrah, BJP accuses TMC of bomb attack
A video from Howrah's Shibpur shows sloganeering during an alleged bomb attack that the BJP blamed on TMC workers. The clash injured two BJP workers, led to a police station gherao and deepened post-poll tension in the area.
The post-poll violence situation in West Bengal is worsening by the day as a viral video from Howrah’s Shibpur area showed a mob allegedly hurling bombs, vandalising property and raising slogans of "Allahu Akbar" and "Nara-e-Takbeer" amid chaos on the streets. The BJP has squarely blamed workers linked to the outgoing Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the violence, claiming at least two of its workers were injured in the attack in the Chaurabasti locality in Shibpur.
The video, which has rapidly circulated on social media, purportedly captures scenes of unrest as explosions are heard in the background while smoke billows through a narrow lane.
A group of men can be seen moving through the locality, shouting religious slogans as panic spread among residents.
Visuals also showed damaged public property and tension gripping the neighbourhood after the clashes.
According to BJP leaders, the violence broke out after alleged supporters of the TMC, led by local leader Shamim Ahmed, targeted BJP workers in the area.
The winning party claimed its workers were assaulted with stones, bricks and crude bombs during the confrontation.
Two BJP workers reportedly sustained injuries and were taken for medical treatment.
The incident triggered a sharp political confrontation, with BJP workers staging protests outside Shibpur police station and accusing the administration of failing to prevent targeted attacks against opposition supporters.
Demonstrators allegedly gheraoed the police station demanding immediate arrests and stronger security arrangements in the violence-hit locality.
Heavy deployment of police personnel and central security forces was made in the area after tensions escalated.
Security personnel conducted patrols through sensitive pockets to prevent further clashes and restore normalcy.
Officials have not yet issued a detailed statement on the allegations surrounding the slogans or the identities of those involved in the violence.
VIOLENCE GRIPS POST-POLL BENGAL
The latest unrest comes amid continuing political volatility in West Bengal following the recently concluded Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured a major victory by winning 207 seats.
Since the declaration of results on May 4, multiple districts across the state have witnessed incidents of political clashes, bomb attacks, vandalism and retaliatory violence, with both the BJP and the TMC accusing each other of orchestrating unrest.
The Howrah violence follows another major incident in North 24 Parganas’ Panihati, where five BJP supporters were injured after unidentified assailants allegedly hurled crude bombs at them late Wednesday night.
The attack took place near St Xavier’s Institution when BJP workers were reportedly interacting with local residents. Police said motorcycle-borne attackers threw bombs before fleeing the spot.
That incident occurred just hours after Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant of senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in Madhyamgram.
Adhikari termed the killing a "pre-planned murder" and appealed to party workers to maintain peace despite rising tensions.
Political violence has intensified across several parts of Bengal in the aftermath of the election results.
Reports of arson, vandalism of party offices, attacks on workers and violent street clashes have emerged from Kolkata, Birbhum, North 24 Parganas, Howrah and other districts.
Both the BJP and the TMC have traded accusations over the incidents while seeking to portray themselves as victims of political targeting.
Amid the escalating violence, the Election Commission has directed West Bengal authorities and central armed police forces to adopt a "zero-tolerance" approach towards post-poll unrest and ensure strict law-and-order measures across sensitive areas of the state.
The post-poll violence situation in West Bengal is worsening by the day as a viral video from Howrah’s Shibpur area showed a mob allegedly hurling bombs, vandalising property and raising slogans of "Allahu Akbar" and "Nara-e-Takbeer" amid chaos on the streets. The BJP has squarely blamed workers linked to the outgoing Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the violence, claiming at least two of its workers were injured in the attack in the Chaurabasti locality in Shibpur.
The video, which has rapidly circulated on social media, purportedly captures scenes of unrest as explosions are heard in the background while smoke billows through a narrow lane.
A group of men can be seen moving through the locality, shouting religious slogans as panic spread among residents.
Visuals also showed damaged public property and tension gripping the neighbourhood after the clashes.
According to BJP leaders, the violence broke out after alleged supporters of the TMC, led by local leader Shamim Ahmed, targeted BJP workers in the area.
The winning party claimed its workers were assaulted with stones, bricks and crude bombs during the confrontation.
Two BJP workers reportedly sustained injuries and were taken for medical treatment.
The incident triggered a sharp political confrontation, with BJP workers staging protests outside Shibpur police station and accusing the administration of failing to prevent targeted attacks against opposition supporters.
Demonstrators allegedly gheraoed the police station demanding immediate arrests and stronger security arrangements in the violence-hit locality.
Heavy deployment of police personnel and central security forces was made in the area after tensions escalated.
Security personnel conducted patrols through sensitive pockets to prevent further clashes and restore normalcy.
Officials have not yet issued a detailed statement on the allegations surrounding the slogans or the identities of those involved in the violence.
VIOLENCE GRIPS POST-POLL BENGAL
The latest unrest comes amid continuing political volatility in West Bengal following the recently concluded Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured a major victory by winning 207 seats.
Since the declaration of results on May 4, multiple districts across the state have witnessed incidents of political clashes, bomb attacks, vandalism and retaliatory violence, with both the BJP and the TMC accusing each other of orchestrating unrest.
The Howrah violence follows another major incident in North 24 Parganas’ Panihati, where five BJP supporters were injured after unidentified assailants allegedly hurled crude bombs at them late Wednesday night.
The attack took place near St Xavier’s Institution when BJP workers were reportedly interacting with local residents. Police said motorcycle-borne attackers threw bombs before fleeing the spot.
That incident occurred just hours after Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant of senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in Madhyamgram.
Adhikari termed the killing a "pre-planned murder" and appealed to party workers to maintain peace despite rising tensions.
Political violence has intensified across several parts of Bengal in the aftermath of the election results.
Reports of arson, vandalism of party offices, attacks on workers and violent street clashes have emerged from Kolkata, Birbhum, North 24 Parganas, Howrah and other districts.
Both the BJP and the TMC have traded accusations over the incidents while seeking to portray themselves as victims of political targeting.
Amid the escalating violence, the Election Commission has directed West Bengal authorities and central armed police forces to adopt a "zero-tolerance" approach towards post-poll unrest and ensure strict law-and-order measures across sensitive areas of the state.
