West Bengal: Protesters injure three police personnel and vandalise police vehicles in Malda district's Manikchak area

Kolkata: Three police personnel were injured and police vehicles vandalized in Malda district's Manikchak as the area turned into a warzone over protests by people over prolonged electricity disruptions.

Angry people hit the roads, blocked roads, protested and burnt tyres and clashed with police today afternoon. Police lathicharged to bring the situation under control. Following West Bengal government’s instruction from the state secretariat Nabanna, a report has been sought from the district administration on the matter and details about the trouble. Three areas in Manikchak, including Nurpur and Inayatpur.

Manikchak officer In-Charge was injured and received head injuries.


Tyres were burnt with people blocking national Highway and other roads and reportedly vandalized police vehicles when police went to control the situation, people in the know said.

Situation went out of control in such a way that police had to take refuge inside a house. Locals claimed that clashes took place. “There is electricity disruption for a long time in such hot weather and we have taken up the matter with the administration. But after we received no response, people started protesting,” a local said. People allegedly claimed that police had opened fire on them. However, no confirmation has been received on the issue.

A high-level meeting has been called by BDO following Nabanna seeking a report on the issue. After the incident, a huge police force was deployed in the area led by a senior officer.

"People's movement cannot be stopped like this. It is sometimes stopped forcefully, sometimes by police. Manikchak incident is unfortunate," LoP Suvendu Adhikari said.