Angry locals were demanding immediate arrest of the people responsible for the death. The police had to resort to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Two persons were arrested on charges of rioting.

Local MLA and food processing minister Mohanto Chatterjee said the situation is under control. “Those who were agitating should have given police some more time to arrest the criminals. This vandalism was uncalled for,” he said. Chatterjee, however, denied that there was any communal tension in the area. On Friday night, during the immersion procession in Chandimandap area of Makardah in Domjur, Pradip Kurari was killed after a brawl ensued.

The police said Kurari was allegedly beaten to death by people from a neighbouring locality. “He died on the spot,” a police officer said.

Locals alleged that Kurari, a resident of Kuraripara, was killed by the residents of Malikpara area.

On Saturday morning, residents of Kuraripara blocked the Amta- Howrah Road, demanding the arrest of the culprits. But no sooner the police tried to clear the road blockade, situation flared up.

Irate mob became violent and started ransacking shops in the adjacent market area. Police said that some of the protestors set ablaze five shops.

“The protestors broke into the house of a local who allegedly led the gang that beat up Pradip. They vandalised the house and another adjacent house,” the police officer said.

“The Rapid Action Force (RAF) had to be called in and the police had to fire tear gas shells to control the mob,” said Neraj Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, Howrah. It took the police more than two hour to bring the situation under control.