Police use tear gas to control cricket clash in Bagrakot of Siliguri, many detained

A heated altercation during a local cricket match escalated into a full-fledged brawl in Bagrakot of Siliguri on Wednesday, July 10, triggering a wholesale police intervention, as they used tear gas to pacify the hostile situation. Several persons have been detained, and police pickets have been deployed in the area to forestall further actions of animosity.

As per the police and local sources, tensions had been rising from June 29 onwards when a friendly cricket series between local youths turned antagonistic after a heated wrangle. A youngster was allegedly assaulted during the game on June 29.

Reportedly, it brought about a retaliatory attack on another youth in Siliguri's Mahavirsthan area on Tuesday. The growing unease preceded an episode of violence on Wednesday afternoon, when two rival groups clashed in Bagrakot.

Things turned erratic soon after as houses and vehicles in the area were vandalised, and both sides reportedly started pelting stones at each other.

As the situation worsened, senior officers of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP), including police commissioner C. Sudhakar and his deputies, hurried their way to the area.

The police initially adopted a lenient approach as they tried to chase the people away from the area, but were later compelled to resort to using tear gas.

“A clash escalated from a dispute over a cricket match. During the stone pelting, we intervened and had to use tear gas. A few people have been detained, and police pickets have been posted in the area to maintain peace,” said B.C. Thakur, the deputy commissioner (east) of the SMP.

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Mayor Gautam Deb of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation strongly condemned the violence. “Such incidents are unacceptable. If anyone is found instigating unrest, strict action will be taken against them,” he said.

Police have started an investigation and are keeping a close track of the situation to ensure no further outbursts occur. In a cricket-crazy country like India, verbal altercations happen now and then on a cricket field, but things rarely get as tense as they did in Bagrakot.