Communists beat up Mamata men with cops8217; lathis

In a blatant case of ruling CPM supporters taking law into their hands, Marxist cadres snatched 8216;lathis8217; from policemen and beat up Trinamool Congress protestors in Kolkata in full view of TV cameras during TC8217;s West Bengal shutdown on Wednesday.

Police were seen standing helplessly as the CPM supporters snatched their lathis and began beating Trinamool activists, who had taken out a procession at Rajballabpur in north Kolkata.

Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said he had ordered an inquiry into the incident and a case has been registered.

He said Trinamool supporters had tried to ransack a medicine shop.

Police, which was escorting the procession led by former Union Minister Ajit Panja, later restored order.