What Happened in Bengal's Jagatdal After Bomb Blast and Shootout?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rival factions clashed over a local festival's control.
- Initial police response was inadequate.
- Violence involved bomb blasts and gunfire.
- No arrests have been made so far.
- Community tension remains high.
Kolkata, Sep 30 (NationPress) Tension gripped Jagatdal in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Tuesday morning after a series of shootouts and bomb blasts erupted outside the residence of former BJP MP Arjun Singh from the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency.
According to Singh, the unrest began around midnight over control of a local Durga Puja committee, escalating into violent clashes between two rival factions. "I was at home watching television when I was alerted to the turmoil outside. It quickly turned chaotic, with both sides exchanging bombs and gunfire for an extended period," Singh recounted to reporters.
He emphasized the inadequacy of police presence at the scene, noting that officers were overwhelmed and had to retreat at one point. "The situation was dire; had the bombings continued unchecked, it could have resulted in significant injuries or fatalities," he added.
During the altercations, Singh's nephew, Sanjay Singh, suffered damage to his vehicle parked nearby. Eventually, a large contingent of police, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), arrived to restore order.
Despite their efforts, tension lingered in the area throughout Tuesday, prompting law enforcement to maintain a strong presence to deter further violence. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incidents.
At the time of this report, no officials from the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate had provided any comments. The neighborhood has seen a series of clashes between rival factions, particularly in the vicinity of Singh's residence, over the past year.