TMC, BJP trade blame after blaze on stage following Biplab speech
Times of India | 26 January 2026
Kolkata: A clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers in Behala's Sakherbazar on Sunday over a political rally, leading to arson, vandalism and traffic disruption on Diamond Harbour Road.
According to police, BJP workers were preparing for a rally at Sakherbazar crossing, when tension flared up with Trinamool workers objecting. Tripura CM Biplab Deb was to address supporters from the stage. An altercation soon escalated into a scuffle. Tension escalated after allegations surfaced that BJP workers had vandalised the nearby office of TMC councillor Sudip Polley.
Later in the evening, BJP alleged that TMC supporters set fire to the stage after Deb concluded his speech and left the spot. The stage was gutted, chairs were damaged and thick smoke led to panic. A fire engine rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. The incident brought vehicular movement on Diamond Harbour Road to a halt for nearly an hour. Police diverted traffic through James Long Sarani, Motilal Gupta Road, MG Road and Rammohan Road.
TMC MLAs Debashis Kumar and Ratna Chatterjee reached the spot and spoke to party workers. A heavy police deployment remained in place till late in the night to prevent further escalation.