Clashes in Bengal leaves several police personnel injured, vehicles vandalised
Clashes erupted between two groups in Maheshtala on the southern fringes of Kolkata on Wednesday (June 11, 2025), leaving several police personnel injured while trying to control the situation and multiple police vehicles vandalised by the mob.
Police said five people were injured in the clash while four were arrested.
The violence, which erupted over the setting up of a shop in Maheshtala in the South 24 Parganas district, quickly escalated, turning the area into a virtual battlefield.
The opposition BJP demanded deployment of central forces in the trouble-torn area, while the ruling TMC accused the saffron camp of politicising a local issue.
Tear gas, lathicharge
Violence broke out in ward number 7 of Maheshtala Municipality, which falls in Metiabruz Assembly segment near Rabindra Nagar police station, in the afternoon and the situation soon spiralled out of control. A large contingent of police was deployed, which had to resort to firing tear gas shells and lathicharge. A few shops were also vandalised during the violence.
“There were some isolated incidents and anti-social elements took advantage of the situation,” the Trinamool Congress MLA from Metiabruz, Abdul Khalek Mollah, said.
Videos aired by TV channels showed mobs pelting stones at the police and injured personnel being evacuated.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari visited the West Bengal Police headquarters at Bhabani Bhawan and sought a meeting with the Director General of Police.
Police overwhelmed
The unrest, which reportedly began on Tuesday over a dispute involving a shop, took a dangerous turn on Wednesday. Several police vehicles were ransacked, windows shattered, and the police appeared momentarily overwhelmed by the mob fury.
As the situation deteriorated, authorities imposed preventive measures under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and launched a crackdown to nab the rioters. The Section empowers a District Magistrate or designated Executive Magistrate to issue urgent preventive orders to avert public nuisance or threats to public peace and safety.
The West Bengal police later said normalcy had been restored, though the area continued to remain tense.
