Amid the protest, police claimed that some personnel had to run for cover and they had to open fire to save themselves. According to Malda Police Superintendent Pradeep Kumar Yadav, so far 26 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Speaking about the possible reasons why the protest turned violent a senior police officer said, “Persistent power crisis in this area was the main cause of this violence.” “For almost 12 to 14 hours, fans are slower (due to low voltage) and people can’t operate air conditioner or cooler at home, especially in the afternoon,” he said.
Despite surplus production of power, certain areas in the state are gripped with irregular power supply. “Power demand has increased in the last five years, but the power supply has not increased,” the Malda police officer said.
Condemning the violence, Trinamool Congress MLA Savitri Mitra said, “What happened is not desirable and we are trying to bring the situation under control.”
“For the last few days, several areas of Manikchak area were facing power cuts and I had asked the divisional officer many times to solve the problem,” she said. Admitting that power cuts still persist, Mitra said Nourpur, Sheikhupura, and Chandipur were blocked due to this.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, slammed the ruling TMC government over the situation. On Friday, the CPI(M) had called for a 12-hour bandh in Manikchak to protest against the police firing. Most of the shops in Enayetpur area, where police fired on the protesting mob, were closed since morning.
Congress has announced a protest from Monday, against the electricity problem.
Former Congress MLA Mottakin Alam said, “We have called for a gherao of the electricity office from July 22.” Pointing out that people are frustrated, he said “Malda administration is a total failure.”
He warned, “If the power department cannot solve the problem, we will lock the electricity distribution office during our dharna.”
Acknowledging the existing electricity problem in Manikchak, the officials from the power department claimed that they were aware of the power supply problem. Stating that such a problem cannot be solved within a day or a month, a senior official of the power department said, “A sub-station is already being constructed at Manikchak and the work will be completed by next October. After that this problem will not exist anymore.”
While the state government has ordered an inquiry and sought a report on why the police had to open fire during the protest, the police say that an opposition leader’s call for protest is also a factor responsible for instigating the violence.
“We are investigating the whole matter and upon identifying who instigated such violence, they will not be spared,” said a state police officer.
Despite a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha elections, the Trinamool Congress lost two seats in Malda and scored the third position.
Uttar-Malda won by BJP leader Khagen Murmu and Dakshin-Malda was won by Congress leader Isha Khan Chowdhury. Congress bagged the second position in Uttar-Malda and in Dakshin-Malda, while BJP stood second.
Amid this, the TMC is on the backfoot after such a movement in Malda.
Five persons, including three policemen, were injured in a clash on Thursday during protests over prolonged power outages in the area.
Two residents were allegedly injured in police firing that was intended to disperse a stone-pelting mob. Manikchak police station Inspector-in-Charge (IC) and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) are among the three injured cops admitted to Malda Medical College.
Residents had blocked roads at 10 locations on Thursday morning, police said. When police intervened to clear the traffic, the locals refused to lift the blockade, started hurling stones at the police team and vandalised police vehicles, said Yadav.
Later, the Rapid Action Force was called in and it dispersed the mob, Yadav said, adding that police had to open fire in self defence while trying to lift the blockade.