Congress, Trinamool clash over college elections, 1 cop dead

Kolkata: A policeman was today killed and another man injured when a clash broke out at a local college here where nomination forms for the union election were being distributed among the candidates.

Tapas Chowdhury, an officer in the Special Branch, was among a posse of policemen trying to control the clashing students in the Garden Reach area.

The violence erupted over the issue of picking up nomination forms for the student union election in Harimohan Ghose College.

"Chowdhury was injured while trying to control the situation. He died in a hospital," a police officer said.

Bombs and brickbats were being freely used in the clash which erupted at Garden Reach area here.

Some miscreants shot at the policeman and he died, V Solomon, Deputy Commissioner has said.

State urban development minister and local MLA Firhad Hakim also confirmed the incident. He said that a policeman, who was shot, died at a hospital.

Hakim, who visited the area immediately after the violence, said that the police administration had been asked to take strong action against criminals responsible for the incident.

He alleged that criminals sheltered by the Congress and the CPI-M were involved in the incident.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inquired about the incident, he said.

A huge police contingent has been rushed to the area to bring the situation under control.