Kolkata: Several offices of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Bali area of Howrah district in West Bengal were allegedly vandalised by miscreants late on Tuesday night, party leaders said on Wednesday.
The CPI(M) alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was behind the attacks. However, the BJP dismissed the allegation and said it had no role in the incident.
CPI(M) leaders said the Dewangazi Zonal party office on Panchanantala Road and another party office on Belur Station Road were vandalised. Besides these, several other party offices in the area were also allegedly ransacked.
According to a CPI(M) leader, a group of miscreants arrived on motorcycles at around 11 p.m., and the attack continued for nearly 45 minutes.
The incident came hours after a programme organised by the CPI(M)’s youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), at Panchanantala near the Bali Canal. Party leader Dipsita Dhar and others were present at the programme.
According to the CPI(M) leaders, tension developed after the event, and the attacks on party offices took place later in the night.
CPI(M) district committee member Shankar Maitra said, “At around 11 p.m., local BJP leaders came on bikes and vandalised four party offices. They locked one office also.”
He further alleged that the police failed to take action despite the party lodging a complaint soon after the alleged vandalism.
The Left party alleged that the BJP was behind the attack even as the ruling party denied the charge.
BJP leader Raja Goswami said, “We were busy with Ganesh Puja and distribution of khichdi. In between, we went to a function organised by the Yuva Morcha at Howrah station. I came to know about the attack on the Left party’s offices from the media. BJP has no connection with this.”
The latest incident comes days after a CPI(M) office in north Bengal’s Jalpaiguri was allegedly vandalised and set on fire. The party had alleged that miscreants affiliated with the BJP attacked its district office on DBC Road in Jalpaiguri.
According to the CPI(M), the miscreants vandalised the gate with sticks and allegedly set fire in front of the party office.
Following the attack, the CPI(M) filed a written complaint with the police.
(IANS)
