Keshpur hots up once again

On Monday, in a major confrontation between the CPIM and Trinamool Congress, hundreds of houses in 12 villages of Keshpur were gutted. A teenager, reportedly caught in the crossfire, was killed. Unofficial reports put the death toll at five. Violence has been reported from Sabang, another Assembly segment in Panskura.

Bhattacharya today faced severe criticism from the Opposition that was demanding the immediate arrest of state Minister Sushanta Ghosh over the violence.

The violence in Keshpur has resurfaced after the Panskura bye-elections were conducted under unprecedented security. Security officials had feared that violence would resurface once the forces are withdrawn.

Reports said that after losing the constituency to the Trinamool Congress, the CPM has at last charged back to gain control over the villages converted into Trinamool Congress camps. The party has, however, put the blame on the Trinamool Congress, charging it with 8220;stirring up the heat once again8221;.

Trinamool has demanded that a team of observers be sent from Delhi.