16 arrested in Bengal's Bhatpara

 Sixteen persons have been arrested in Bhatpara in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, but not in connection with Thursday's violence that claimed two lives, police said on Friday.

"Sixteen persons have been arrested in relation to various cases. However, no arrests have been made in relation to Thursday's bombing and firing," a senior officer of the newly-inaugurated Bhatpara police station said.

On Friday morning, miscreants hurled a bomb in Kakinara amidst imposition of prohibitory orders and additional police reinforcement.

Witnesses saw two bike-borne miscreants throwing a crude bomb before fleeing.

Condemning the Bhatpara incident, Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said: "I think everyone should make a positive contribution in bringing peace... West Bengal must have peace so that people can progress."

Shops in the area remained shut while tension prevailed among the residents. They complained that there were hardly any police picketing on Thursday night despite the government's intervention.

Some school buildings were occupied by police forces deployed in the area.

"Students are not being able to attend school and we fear that we will not be able to complete the syllabus," a teacher said.

A delegation of BJP activists led by MP Arjun Singh submitted a deputation at Barrackpore police commissionerate.

On Thursday, violence erupted claiming two lives and leaving four others injured while the police opened fire.

"Why are ordinary people being killed? We vote for the government and still we have to suffer. I want the government to take responsibility as he was the only earning member," a kin of one of the deceased said.

Director General of Police Virendra had said that six police officers were also injured in the incident.

The violence had erupted on a day the new Bhatpara police station was scheduled to be inaugurated by the DGP. But keeping in view the ferocity of the clash, he returned midway and rushed to the state Secretariat, Nabanna, where the government had called an urgent meeting to tackle the violence.

"Section 144 (of the Criminal Procedure Code) has been imposed in areas under Bhatpara, Jagaddal police station and adjoining places. All efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the area," Home Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay had said on Thursday. IANS