Bombs hurled, shots fired outside BJP leader Arjun Singh’s residence in Bengal's Bhatpara
Kolkata (PTI): Unidentified miscreants hurled bombs and opened fire outside the residence of BJP leader and former MP Arjun Singh in West Bengal’s Bhatpara, police said on Thursday.
A youth suffered injuries in the attack that took place late on Wednesday, they said.
Singh and his close associates reportedly chased the assailants, forcing them to flee the spot.
“The situation is now under control. Those involved will not be spared... legal action will be taken against the culprits,” Barrackpore Police Commissioner Ajay Thakur said.
Singh alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Sunita Singh’s son, Namit Singh, was behind the attack.
“He opened fire in front of the police. There was indiscriminate firing and bombing,” the former MP claimed.
According to police sources, the violence erupted following a dispute between two groups of workers at Meghna Jute Mill in the area.
Meanwhile, TMC’s Jagaddal MLA Somnath Shyam accused Singh and his supporters of instigating violence.
“Arjun Singh and his men attacked workers in the Meghna Jute Mill and fired bullets. The youth was shot by Singh, and three to four more people were injured in his group’s attack. We demand Singh’s immediate arrest, or we will launch a larger protest,” he said.
Namit Singh reportedly arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the unrest.
Soon after, the situation escalated, leading to gunfire and bombing, police said.
Describing the sequence of events, Singh said, “Around 10:30 pm, I suddenly heard two rounds of gunshots. I was in Majdoor Bhavan with my close associates. I rushed outside and headed towards Meghna Mor. As soon as we reached the spot, miscreants opened fire at us.”
Singh claimed that at least five to seven rounds were fired.
Following the attack, he and his associates chased the assailants, during which one of them fell into a drain and suffered injuries.
A large police contingent, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, was deployed in the area to control the situation.
Several empty cartridges and live bombs have been recovered from the spot, officials said.
The injured youth was initially taken to Bhatpara State General Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata, police said.
Patrolling has been intensified in Bhatpara to prevent any further escalation, the officials added.
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PM Modi to flag off first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19, says Jitendra Singh
Jammu (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19 from Katra, marking the completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project.
The Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially operate from Katra as the Jammu railway station is undergoing renovation.
According to officials, the rail link project was completed last month. Trial runs of the train on the Katra-Baramulla route have been successfully conducted. The Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the train service between Katra and Kashmir in January, they said.
The Vande Bharat Express is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, providing a modern and efficient rail service for the region, they said.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu on Sunday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world's highest railway bridge and inaugurate it. After that, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra."
The inauguration of the train will fulfil a long demand for direct rail connectivity to Kashmir. Currently, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley and from Katra to destinations across the country.
Officials said the ambitious project to link Kashmir by train began in 1997 but faced multiple delays due to geological, topographical, and meteorological challenges.
The project includes 38 tunnels spanning a total of 119 km, with the longest among them being the 12.75 km-long Tunnel T-49. It is also the country's longest transportation tunnel.
The project also features 927 bridges, covering a combined length of 13 kilometres. Among them is the iconic Chenab Bridge, which has an overall length of 1,315 meters, an arch span of 467 meters, and stands 359 meters above the riverbed. Being 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, it is set to be the world’s highest arch railway bridge.
