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News Desk: Activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP on Tuesday clashed here over alleged tearing up of hoardings with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s picture during a 12-hour north Bengal bandh called by the saffron party, which evoked mixed response.
The bandh has been called to protest the death of party worker Ulen Ray in alleged police firing during BJYM’s march to ‘Uttarkanya’, the branch secretariat here, on Monday.
Protest marches were held by bandh supporters at different towns and district capitals in north Bengal with roadblocks being put up at Coochbehar, Mathabhanga and Malda affecting traffic movement.
However, no major untoward incident was reported from the region, official sources said.
Markets and shops were partially open while private buses and other modes of road transport were fewer in number than usual. However, government buses were available.
Tension mounted at Mahatma Gandhi crossing here over alleged tearing up of hoardings displaying messages and pictures of the chief minister.
TMC and BJP workers clashed over the alleged vandalism and blocking of movement of traffic in the area.
While the TMC alleged that the flex hoardings of the party supremo were damaged by the BJP supporters, the saffron party claimed that its flags were torn by the workers of the ruling party.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Jalpaiguri MLA Dr Jayanta Kumar Roy on Tuesday visited the victim’s family at Mengara village and assured his family that the party will bear the education expenses of his three school-going children.
Police had fired teargas shells and used water cannons on Monday to quell a violent protest called by the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) against the Mamata Banerjee government during which Ray died.
The BJP, initially, had alleged that Ray was “beaten to death” by the police during a baton charge.
