Basta: Normalcy prevailed at Basta railway station in Balasore district Tuesday, a day after a deadly clash broke out between suspected Bangladeshi immigrants and political activists.
A tight police vigil continued throughout the day at the railway station in order to prevent a further breach of law and order.
Six persons were left injured in Monday’s clash, said police, adding that they were keeping a close watch at sensitive places in the district.
Sources said two political leaders in the area are behind the group clash. Some illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who are history-sheeters in the area often clash at the behest of the political activists in Basta area. The two leaders in question also shield the Bangladeshi immigrants, who go into hiding in neighbouring West Bengal after committing crimes, it is learnt.
These immigrants have been provided IAY houses as well as ration cards under NFSA at the instruction the two leaders.
Various outfits demanded immediate arrest of the youths who were involved in the clash.
The incident triggered tension in the locality with thousands of residents burning tyres on the main road to Basta railway station protesting the assault on some youths by members of a different community Monday.
Traders downed their shutters in the area while police appealed for peace through public address systems.
The incident occurred when four youths were standing in a queue outside the ticket booking counter to purchase tickets for a Khurda Road-bound fast passenger train when some youths jumped the queue to buy tickets.
Six persons identified as Bijay Mallick, Gobind Jena, Rabindra Jena, Suryakant Behera, Sk. Muna and Sk. Sudam were injured in the clash.
Reports said police are now keeping a vigil at banks, hospitals, railway stations, government offices and slum areas.
SP Niti Sekhar monitored the situation Tuesday here along with Jaleswar IIC Chandan Ghadei, Baliapal Surendranath Beuria, Rupsa IIC Ashok Nayak, Basta IIC Dhaneswar Sahu and Silang IIC Bimala Nayak so as to ward off any untoward incidents. Jaleswar SDPO Satyaranjan Mallick was also present. PNN
