CPI(M) Office Torched in Jalpaiguri, Party Points Finger at ABVP
CPI(M) office in Jalpaiguri vandalised and set on fire; party accuses ABVP, which denies involvement. Protest march held amid heightened tension.
A political storm has erupted in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri after the district office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was allegedly vandalised and set on fire late Monday night. The incident has triggered a protest march by the CPI(M) and sharp accusations against the Akhil Bharat Chhatra Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP.
The CPI(M) has squarely blamed ABVP workers for the attack on its office, located in Subodh Sen Bhawan. The ABVP has categorically denied the charge, and the BJP has also dismissed the allegation.
According to reports, the trouble began earlier on Monday afternoon when a clash broke out between supporters of the ABVP and the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the CPI(M)'s student wing. Several ABVP supporters were reportedly injured in that incident. Later in the evening, ABVP workers filed a written complaint at the local police station. As they were returning, they were allegedly attacked again near the CPI(M) district office.
The situation escalated around 10:30 pm when a group of ABVP workers reportedly attacked the CPI(M) office. The CPI(M) claims the attackers vandalised the premises, set it on fire, burnt party flags, and damaged a martyr memorial inside. Several windowpanes were also smashed.
Pijush Mishra, the district secretary of the CPI(M), alleged that the attackers were armed with petrol bottles, matches, swords, and sticks, and that they hurled stones at the office before setting it ablaze.
A large police team from the Kotwali Police Station arrived at the scene to control the situation. An argument reportedly broke out between the police and CPI(M) supporters at the location.
The CPI(M) has further alleged that BJP workers were present alongside the ABVP supporters during the attack, even in the presence of police. Both the BJP and ABVP have denied these accusations.
On Tuesday, a large protest march was taken out by the CPI(M) from its party office, with a significant police deployment accompanying the procession. The incident has left Jalpaiguri City on edge, with political tensions running high and rival groups trading allegations.