Kailashahar, September 4:
A government tender worth ₹30 lakh triggered a day-long tension in Kailashahar town on Thursday after rival contractor groups clashed outside the Public Works Department (PWD) office.
The PWD had recently floated the tender, with two youths—one from Kailashahar town and another from its northern part—submitting bids. Both were asked to submit their bank guarantees by September 5. However, with offices closed for Fateha Doaz Daham, September 4 effectively became the final date.
Around noon, when the northern bidder reached the PWD office to submit his guarantee, the rival group allegedly attempted to block him. Armed with sticks, both sides engaged in a heated standoff, spreading panic among locals.
On receiving information, SDPO Jayanta Karmakar and OC Tapas Malakar rushed to the spot with a large contingent of police, TSR, and central forces. Authorities managed to separate the groups, but the northern party failed to submit its bank guarantee before the 5:30 pm deadline.
Tension flared again at 3:30 pm when both groups clashed in front of police personnel. The northern group staged a road blockade for nearly an hour before order was restored.
Though both factions are reportedly supporters of the ruling party, police refrained from commenting on any political links.
After the office closed, the SDPO confirmed that the situation had been brought under control. Despite the unrest, law and order were not officially disrupted.
For nearly five and a half hours, the standoff created fear across Kailashahar, with locals alarmed by the sight of rival groups carrying sticks outside a government office.
