KOLKATA: Supporters of ruling Trinamool Congress and party backed hooligans who attempted to burn a journalist alive and badly assaulted four others at Barrackpore, an industrial zone in the northern fringes of the city when the reporters went there to cover a murder and violence on Friday morning. Locals claimed that the murder is a fallout of factional clash among the ruling party.

Trouble broke out at Barrackpore Sadar Bazaar area on Thursday evening, after a local criminal Jitulal Hati was found dead. Hati, believed to be close to local influential Trinamool leader Sibu Yadav and was a key person behind running a gambling den. Following murder of Hati, a gang of hooligans attacked the office and chamber of Rabin Bhattacharya, local Trinamool councilor and advocate who happens to be the president of TMC dominated local bar association.

Miscreants ransacked his office, set fire on furniture and then attacked Bhattacharya’s brother-in-law Dulal Karmakar’s house who stayed close to the spot. Miscreants allegedly beat up Karmakar and his family members. Rabin is known from rival camp of Sibu Yadav.

On Friday morning, a group of journalists went to the spot where Rabin was also present. Astik Chatterjee, a journalist from ABP Ananda — a Bengali news channel said,“We were shooting the ransacked office of Rabin. Suddenly we spotted a group of youth carrying iron rods, wooden sticks and Trinamool Congress flag . They came close to us and surrounded us.” Without any provocation, the gang of armed youth started abusing the journalists and asked them to leave the spot. They even tried to attack Rabin who was speaking to us.

Barun Sengupta , another journalist from '24 Ghanta', another local Bengali news channel said that they protested against the gang of youth. “We told them to not interrupt our job.” The gang then turned violent and started attacking the journalists with iron rods and sticks. "We started running for life", said Astik. But the gang of hooligans chased them and managed to get hold of Astik. “They beat me up with iron rod and sticks. One hit my head with an iron rod and I started bleeding profusely. I fell on the ground but they did not give up and continued hitting me,” said Astik who lost consciousness.

Meanwhile another gang of miscreants caught Barun Sengupta and dragged him into a nearby abandoned house.“They confined in the room and started beating. Then one of them poured petrol on me. They were about to burn me alive when some locals stormed inside and after a scuffle managed to protect me,” said Barun. Cops from Barrackpore City Police, led by assistant commissioner Subhankar Bhattacharya rushed to the spot and managed to rescue the injured journalists. Astik and Barun were taken to Barrackpore BN Bose Hosiptal where they are admitted in serious condition.

Barrackpore City Police chief Sanjay Singh claimed that three persons were arrested in connection with the assault of the journalists. He said that the situation turned violent because of the previous evening, following the murder of an anti-social. He claimed that since Thursday evening there was a police picket but could not confirm how the journalists were attacked in presence of the police picket. Locals confirmed that all three arrested — Joy Mondal, Balbir Singh and Rajkumar Singh — are known active Trinamool Congress activists in the area, though local Trinamool Congress leaders have disowned them.

The attack on the journalists has been condemned by different quarters of the society including political parties. Union minister Deepa Dasmunshi said, “During previous regime, we experienced the same. CPM men used to attack journalists. It’s a dangerous trend when ruling party sponsors such hooliganism.” Kolkata Press Club also condemned the attack. Nirmal Ghosh, Trinamool MLA and north 24 paragans district party president however denied the involvement of any TMC men. “The miscreants are not from TMC,” said Ghosh who even disowned Sibu Yadav as their party colleague. State industry and commerce minister Partha Chatterjee who initially denied the allegation however later assured that the party will probe the incident. “Law will take its own course and if our men are involved then stern action will be taken against them. We condemn such brutality and hooliganism,” said Chatterjee.