The BJP’s stand-off with the ruling Trinamool Congress intensified on Wednesday afteroon, with clashes breaking out between workers of the saffron party and the police in the heart of Kolkata.

Confrontation with police was reported from north and central Kolkata areas, a few yards from the city police headquarters called Lalbazar.

The BJP was holding a march to protest the killing of its workers, allegedly by TMC workers, and alleged breakdown of law and order in the State.

The TMC and the BJP have been involved in violent skirmishes since the Lok Sabha polls. Violence continued unabated and at least 15 people have lost their lives so far n post-poll clashes.

Stand-off with police

Eye witnesses said the Kolkata Police baton-charged, used water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells as BJP workers tried to break barricades and march on towards the city police headquarters.

The street fight took place on the Bepin Behari Ganguly Street CR Avenue crossing, one of the busy areas in the city that connect north and central Kolkata with the southern parts.

The BJP’s protest march started at around 1 pm from central Kolkata's Subodh Mullick Square and was scheduled to conclude at Lalbazaar.

BJP brass claimed that nearly one lakh supporters participated in the protest march.

“There is complete break-down of law and order in the State. The opposition party, particularly the BJP workers, are being attacked every day. Opposition voices are being throttled,” Dilip Ghosh, MP and President of the BJP’s state unit, said.

According to Ghosh, “a peaceful protest rally” was attacked upon. Water canons and tear gas shells were lobbed without any warning. “MPs, police officers and even doctors do not feel secure here anymore. Mamata Banerjee has no right to govern the State,” he added before calling off the protest march.

Two years ago, the BJP had organised a similar march to the Kolkata Police headquarters, which had also resulted in clashes.

According to Kailash Vijayvargiya, senior BJP leader in-charge of West Bengal, the mandate of the people is with BJP.

“People will overthrow this Mamata Banerjee government very soon,” he said adding that a report on the incident will be given to the central leadership.

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