Malda, March 13: At least 10 persons, including eight women, were injured seriously in a clash between two groups over the installation of a mobile tower by a private company at Station Para here this morning. All the injured have been admitted to a health centre in town.

The incident saw a verbal duel between the local leaders of the CPM and the RSP, although district superintendent of police Satyajit Banerjee denied that it was a political clash.

When the employees of the mobile service provider arrived to erect the tower on a six-cottah land owned by the CPM worker, Dalim Das, some local people came forward and argued that the generator to be used for running the structure would create smoke and noise pollution. They also said sound from the generator would affect the studies of children. The altercation soon took the turn of a clash and 10 persons were injured.

Das said he had given the land to the company in lieu of a monthly rent of Rs 3,500 and a job for his son with a salary of Rs 1,500

The CPM worker alleged that the residents were instigated by Durgesh Halder, an RSP leader of the locality. According to him, Halder had tried to extort of money from the mobile company. “After Halder was denied the money, he tried to scuttle the project.”

Sarbananda Pande, Halder’s colleague in the RSP, however, brushed aside the charge.