Kolkata: Dharmatala turned into a veritable battleground between police and ISF supporters

Kolkata: Police fired tear gas canisters after lathi charge failed to repulse the stone-throwing ISF supporters as the latter on Saturday afternoon blocked busy traffic at Dharmatala, which turned into a veritable battleground between them, official sources said.
Indian Security Front (ISF) Naushad Siddiqui (MLA), who led the blockade at the crossing of Esplanade with thousands of his supporters were arrested along with some of his associates.
Besides the Deputy Commissioner of South, some other policemen and a dozen of ISF supporters have been wounded in the clashes, in which stones, glass bottles and other missiles were used.
Police fired several tear gas shells after welding batton failed to quell the mob, which had assembled at the call of ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui.
However, the situation was restored and volunteers were seen cleaning the road, which was littered with sleepers, shoes and party flags.
The violence in Dharmatala, a spilled up the sporadic clashes between the supporters of ISF and West Bengal ruling Trinamool Congress at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, where crude bombs and firearms were used between the warring supporters. The clashes at Bhangar were reported since Friday over hosing the party flags.
The ISF MLA, along with his supporters had come to Esplanade to block the traffic at the peak hours to raise their voice about the clashes at Bhangar where he alleged that TMC leader Arabul Islam was leading attacks on the ISF supporters at Hatishala under the Bhangar area.
Sources said arrested ISF MLA Naushad Siddique and some of his supporters were taken to Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police HQ.

Kolkata Police. (UNI)