Kolkata: Tension gripped the Rabindranagar area near Kolkata on Wednesday following a violent clash between two groups that spiralled into widespread unrest, leaving several police personnel injured and multiple vehicles vandalised. The situation prompted a large-scale deployment of reinforcements and has triggered sharp political reactions.

According to police reports, five people sustained injuries in the violence, and 18 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. The unrest originated from a dispute over the establishment of a shop in Maheshtala, falling under the jurisdiction of Rabindranagar Police Station in South 24 Parganas district. What began as a local disagreement quickly escalated into chaos, transforming the area into what eyewitnesses described as a “virtual battlefield.”

"Bricks were thrown from rooftops, tyres set alight on the roads, and a motorbike was torched in front of the police station," a police officer said. "Several police vehicles were vandalised, and one officer suffered a head injury after being hit by a brick."

Eyewitness accounts confirm that the violence unfolded just outside the police station, with protesters hurling stones, leaving multiple officers, including a female constable, injured. Reinforcements from Kolkata and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were rushed in, and tear gas shells were used to disperse the violent crowd.

Authorities responded by imposing preventive measures under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a provision allowing executive magistrates to issue urgent orders to prevent public disturbances. Raids are ongoing, with several arrests made, and a strong police presence remains in the area to prevent further unrest.

Despite police assurances that the situation has now been brought under control, the area remains tense, with political parties trading barbs over the incident.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded the deployment of central forces in Rabindranagar. Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, staged a protest outside the West Bengal Police headquarters in Alipore, accusing the state police of inaction and bias.

“Members of the Hindu community were subjected to looting, arson, and violence for hours while the police stood by. Even police vehicles were torched, yet there was no serious intervention,” Adhikari alleged. He also claimed that the Director General of Police, Rajiv Kumar, had refused to meet him.

Adhikari announced plans to move the Calcutta High Court, seeking urgent intervention and the deployment of central forces, similar to previous orders during communal unrest in Murshidabad. He was joined by BJP MLAs and a group of sadhus, who claimed to have received distress calls from local residents.

Echoing these concerns, BJP state president and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar accused the administration of siding with the aggressors, alleging that the police “acted against the victims.” He further demanded that the Governor of West Bengal, C V Ananda Bose, intervene to ensure constitutional order is restored.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, has dismissed the BJP’s claims, accusing the opposition of attempting to politicise what they termed a “local issue.”

“All necessary measures have been taken. The police acted decisively to restore order,” said Kunal Ghosh, TMC’s state general secretary and spokesperson. “The BJP is trying to give this incident a communal hue, which is both irresponsible and dangerous.”

Kolkata Mayor and senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim also condemned the violence and wished the injured officers a speedy recovery. He, however, accused the BJP of deliberately stoking communal tensions for political gain.

“Their goal is to disturb the peace and harmony of Bengal. We urge everyone to maintain calm and avoid falling into the trap of polarisation,” Hakim stated.