In an unexpected turn of events, the residents of Veluarchar, under the Boxonagar assembly segment, witnessed a violent clash between two factions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. The conflict arose following the selection of the Panchayat Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan after the official oath-taking ceremony.
The incident left two people, including a woman, injured. In response, a road blockade was staged on the Boxonagar-Bishalgarh road at Narur Bari, escalating the tension in the area. Local authorities acted swiftly, deploying a significant number of security personnel to restore order and prevent further violence.
The dispute centers around the selection of leadership for the 9-member Veluarchar Panchayat. Of the 21 Panchayats, the oath-taking ceremony was held for elected members from nine Panchayats, including Rahimpur, Putia, Veluarchar, Manikyanagar, Nayanjola, Durgapur, Aralia, Maynama, and Kulubari.
Tensions flared when differences arose between two groups regarding the selection of the Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan for the Veluarchar Panchayat. Barunkanti Laskar, the Boxanagar Mandal vice-president, pushed for his sister-in-law to be appointed as the Pradhan. However, the former Pradhan, Anil Das, was also vying to retain his position. Ultimately, the party decided to appoint Mani Barman as the new Pradhan, with Anil Das as the Upa-Pradhan.
The oath-taking ceremony at the Veluarchar community hall initially saw the attendance of only four elected members, with a fifth member joining later. Shortly after the ceremony concluded, a clash erupted between the two factions, leading to physical altercations. Lakshmi Deb and her nephew, Subhash Deb, were injured in the melee.
In protest, Barunkanti Laskar and his supporters blocked the road, setting tires on fire and demanding accountability from the local MLA. The situation grew more tense as the protesters burned an effigy of the MLA, expressing their dissatisfaction with the leadership.
Despite the presence of security personnel, the atmosphere in Veluarchar remained charged with fear, as supporters of the newly-elected Upa-Pradhan prepared for a potential counter-demonstration. The Superintendent of Police for Sepahijala district visited the scene, engaging with the protesters to defuse the situation. Additionally, Mandal president Subhash Chandra Saha arrived on the scene, and MLA Tofajjal Hossain addressed the agitators over the phone.
The road blockade was eventually lifted after authorities assured the protesters that action would be taken against those responsible for the violence. However, local residents have blamed Barunkanti Laskar for inciting the incident, accusing him of prioritizing his political ambitions over the welfare of the community.
This incident has not only exposed the deep divisions within the local BJP leadership but has also raised concerns about the stability and unity of the party at the grassroots level in the region.
