Several people injured in clash over football match

Kolkata, Aug 16 (PTI) Several persons including a fewpolicemen were injured when two groups of people clashed overa football match in Maniktala area here following which around28 people, including six women, were arrested today for theiralleged involvement in the clash. Several persons including a few policemen were injured inthe clash last night over a football match played earlier inwhich stones were pelted and acid-bottles thrown. A team of police from Manicktala police stationreached the place and the situation was brought under control,a police officer said. This morning persons belonging to two localities inthe Maniktola area clashed again, following which teams ofKolkata Police, RAF, Railway Police Force (RPF) were deployedthere to bring the situation under control, he said. However, as people belonging to both the localities,situated on two flanks of a railway track passing through thearea, started throwing stones at the policemen. The policementhen made a lathicharge to bring the situation under control,the officer said. Train services in the Sealdah North division wereaffected and a few trains stranded for around 30 minutesat the Bidhannagar Railway station after the mob threw stonesat passing trains, the senior officer said. Terming the clash as a "political one", DeputyCommissioner of Police, Eastern Suburban Division (ESD)Debasmita Das said, "It’s basically a fight between locals oftwo paras (neighbourhood) which was sorted out." The CPI(M) alleged the the clash was a result ofinfighting between two groups of TMC leaders. Meanwhile, local TMC MLA and state minister SadhanPande denied involvement of TMC leaders whose names havecropped up as being involved in the clash. "The TMC has no link to the clash in Maniktalaincident. This is clash between locals," Pande said PTI SCHPNT MD AQSRG