West Bengal clashes: Tension lingers in the lanes of Rabindra Nagar; locals reel in the aftermath

Violence erupts in Rabindra Nagar, Maheshtala, leading to arrests and damage; tension remains high in the aftermath.

Tension simmered in the bylanes of Rabindra Nagar in Maheshtala (South 24 Parganas) on Thursday, June 12, as residents grappled with the aftermath of violence that erupted a day earlier. Most shops remained shuttered; some bore signs of vandalism, with shattered glass and broken stones strewn across the neighbourhood.

Though municipal workers cleared debris through the early hours of Thursday, the air was still heavy with the acrid smell of soot and burnt fuel from torched vehicles. Police removed the charred remains of a bike set ablaze on Wednesday afternoon, while locals gathered the stones pelted during the clashes. Several vehicles were damaged, and a number of residents sustained injuries.

“We are sitting and counting losses. Our shop was vandalised. Police have also asked us not to open today. How will we survive?” said a local shopowner in Rabindra Nagar, tearfully surveying the damage.

Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police arrested 40 individuals on the intervening night of June 11 and 12 in connection with the violence, which left several police personnel injured. Seven FIRs have been registered so far, officials confirmed.

The violence broke out in Ward No. 7, Maheshtala, on Wednesday morning, reportedly over the setting up of a shop. The situation took a communal turn following allegations of an attack on a place of worship. Tensions escalated rapidly as two groups clashed, pelting stones and attacking police personnel. The police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charges to disperse the crowd.

The incident occurred just metres away from Rabindra Nagar Police Station. However, police officials stated that the deployment at the time was insufficient to contain what they described as a “frantic” mob.

A senior IPS officer present at the site told The Hindu that the “situation was under control.” Authorities imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the area, restricting movement and assembly.