BJP protests in Bengal’s Hoogly

Kolkata, June 27 (IANS) Tension soared in West Bengal's Hoogly district following BJP's demonstrations on Thursday after one of the party activists was allegedly shot at by the police while trying to stop a scuffle between Trinamool Congress and saffron party workers over chanting of 'jai shri Ram.'

Police said a bullet was misfired by one of the personnel after some agitators tried to snatch away his gun during the scuffle in Hoogly's Gurap on Wednesday night.

Protesting the incident, the BJP workers on Thursday blocked the Dhanekhali Road in Gurap, gheraoed the local police station and allegedly threw stones at the personnel, forcing them to take shelter inside the station.

Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesters and remove the road blockades.

At least 10 police personnel sustained injuries in the stone pelting, but no one was arrested in the incident, police said.

According to locals, a clash broke out between the activists of the two parties in the late hours on Wednesday after the Trinamool workers allegedly asked a group of BJP supporters not to chant 'jai Shri Ram".

Police reached the spot and tried to stop the scuffle but a bullet was misfired from a police rifle and hit a villager after some people allegedly tried to snatch away the gun from a personnel.

The situation turned violent as the mob attacked the police and vandalised at least two police vehicles. A large contingent of police and Rapid Action Force personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.