Maheshtala witnessed violent clashes on June 11 after a small dispute over setting up a shop turned into a major communal conflict. The unrest led to stone-pelting, injuries to police officers, and the arrest of 40 individuals, forcing authorities to impose prohibitory orders to restore order.
Police arrested 40 people, and several officers were hurt. Prohibitory orders were put in place to stop more violence. Officials say the situation is calm now, but people in the area remain tense.
Maheshtala Turns Violent After Shop Dispute Escalates
Trouble began on Wednesday afternoon in Ward 7 of Maheshtala over the setup of a local shop. What started as a small argument between groups quickly turned into a violent clash. Some people claimed that a place of worship was attacked, which made the situation worse.
Soon after, mobs began throwing stones at the police who tried to control the crowd. As the violence spread, the police imposed prohibitory orders and rushed more personnel to the area. According to officials, West Bengal Police arrested 28 people, and Kolkata Police arrested 12. Four West Bengal Police officers and about 12 Kolkata Police officers, including a Deputy Commissioner, were injured.
Seven FIRs were filed, with four registered at the Nadial Police Station. The area where the violence took place falls under both West Bengal and Kolkata Police, which made the situation harder to manage at first.
Political Protests and Police Response Continue
By Thursday morning, the area remained tense. Shops and businesses stayed closed. Police patrolled the streets and cleared vandalised motorbikes. Officers also made public announcements asking people not to gather in crowds, citing orders under Section 163 of the BNSS.
Locals said police arrived too late, even though the Rabindra Nagar police station is only 100 meters away. The violence brought strong political reactions. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari protested at the West Bengal police headquarters and asked to visit the affected area. He posted on X, calling on the police not to block his visit and said he wanted to support the victims.
BJP MLAs also warned they might block Assembly proceedings. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress leader and Minister Firhad Hakim promised tough action against those who attacked the police. This incident comes just weeks after communal violence in Murshidabad, raising serious concerns across the state.