North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], April 27 : Tensions reached a boiling point in North 24 Parganas on Sunday night as violent clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters in front of the Jagaddal Police Station.
The unrest comes just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a high-profile public meeting in the region on Monday.
The spark for the violence was reportedly the tearing of political flags and posters put up for the Prime Minister's visit. What began as a dispute over campaign banners escalated into a full-scale confrontation involving stone-pelting, alleged bombings, and gunfire.
BJP workers accused TMC supporters of desecrating their campaign materials near the Jagaddal area. The situation escalated rapidly as supporters from both sides gathered in front of the Jagaddal Police Station, leading to heated exchanges, stone-pelting, and physical skirmishes that local law enforcement struggled to contain.
In a significant escalation of the conflict, a bombing was reported at the residence of BJP MLA Pawan Singh, contesting from Bhatpara (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Crude bombs were hurled at the MLA's house, causing panic in the neighbourhood and significant property damage. At least three people were injured in the explosion. The injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
BJP candidate Pawan Kumar Singh framed the incident as a culmination of harassment that began the previous day during a street corner meeting. He claimed TMC members, led by a local councillor, disrupted BJP events. The situation intensified today while BJP workers were putting up posters of Prime Minister Modi.
Singh alleged that after leaving the police station, his group was targeted with stones and country-made bombs. In the most severe escalation of the report, Singh claims that firing broke out, resulting in a CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel being shot in the left leg.

"This issue started yesterday. We were having a street corner meeting. Some TMC members came. Ward 17 councillor Manoj Pandey came with his men and started creating trouble. After that, we went to the IC (Inspector-in-Charge) and complained... After the complaint, they said they would take action. But today, when we were putting up PM Modi's photos to welcome him, they started disturbing us, and then they started protesting at the police station... After sorting the matter out and heading home, we first saw stones being thrown. After the stones were thrown, they threw bombs as well... After that, firing started. One of the CISF personnel was shot in the left leg...," he said.
Conversely, Amit Gupta, the TMC candidate for Bhatpara, the friction started in Ward Achala Bagan. He claimed his party workers were peacefully installing campaign materials when they were intercepted.
Gupta alleged that individuals identified as Guddu and Pintu Singh forcibly assaulted a TMC worker named Bittu and vandalised a local party office. He stated that while his team was at the station to file a formal complaint, BJP candidate Arjun Singh arrived with his security detail and allegedly attacked TMC workers within the station premises.
Gupta emphasised Arjun Singh's legal history, citing numerous pending cases as evidence of a "habitual nature" of violence.

"In Ward Achala Bagan, Bittu, our worker, was putting up banners and flags. Our party office is also located there. Guddu Singh, Pintu Singh, forcibly beat him up. Our flags were torn. They went inside our party office and destroyed the premises. We had come to the police station to file a complaint regarding this incident... When we arrived at the police station, Arjun Singh, accompanied by his Central Police Force, CISF security, suddenly attacked our worker, right inside the police station, in front of the Police... The 200 criminal cases against him are not pending without reason. This is his nature... We have filed a complaint. We have also informed the Election Commission and have also informed higher leadership. We are optimistic that the administration will take action... When this clash was taking place outside, we were locked in a room in the Police Station. Therefore, we do not know this news...," said Gupta.
With the Prime Minister's rally scheduled for today, security agencies have been put on high alert. Additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in the Jagaddal and Bhatpara areas to prevent further escalation.
The police have registered a case regarding the bombing and the clashes, though the atmosphere remains highly volatile as both parties continue to trade accusations of political vendetta.
North 24 Parganas district witnessed poll campaigning with BJP heavyweights, including party national president Nitin Nabin, PM Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, all campaigning to consolidate support in the district with the highest population in West Bengal.
The first phase of polling on April 23 saw a staggering 92.35% voter turnout across the state. The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies.
The polling for the second phase will be held on April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.