Teachers allege attack by TMC

TT, Siliguri, April 13: Five teachers who are members of the CPM-backed All Bengal Teachers' Association today alleged that a group of Trinamul supporters had attacked their meeting on the outskirts of Siliguri yesterday evening.

At Chathat in Phansidewa, about 30km from Siliguri, the ABTA had organised a meeting in support of Sunil Tirkey of the Congress, the alliance candidate of Phansidewa.

Tamal Chanda, the Darjeeling district president of ABTA, today said one of their members had to be admitted to a private nursing home in Siliguri. He was released this afternoon.

Ainul Haque, a Trinamul leader based in Phansidewa and a member of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, rubbished the allegation that his party's supporters had attacked the Left-backed teachers. He said the teachers had not allowed a woman Trinamul supporter to cross the road where the meeting was on, leading to a quarrel. Some local people came out in support of the woman.

"Around 7pm, we were having a meeting in support of Sunil Tirkey, the Congress candidate of Phansidewa, at Chathat. A group of Trinamul miscreants attacked us without any provocation. They damaged chairs and microphone and assaulted us with sticks. Four other teachers and I were injured," Arun Sarkar, one of the injured teachers, said while being treated at a private nursing home today.

Chanda, the district ABTA president, said the other four members of the association who suffered injuries were taken to the Phansidewa block health centre. They were released after being given first aid.

"We were having a peaceful meeting in support of the Congress candidate. We fail to understand what prompted Trinamul to attack us," Chanda said.

Haque, however, said: "A woman Trinamul member of Chathat panchayat was crossing the area when some ABTA members refused to let her pass through the road. When she protested, some local people supported her. This led to the altercation. Nobody from Trinamul was involved in any attack. These people are raising baseless allegations to tarnish our party's name ahead of the polls."

Darjeeling district CPM leaders said Trinamul was attacking Left activists as they were aware the party would lose in Phansidewa. "They have lost people's support and thus, they are attacking those in the Opposition to create fear among voters. Such tactics will not work," said Jibesh Sarkar, the Darjeeling district CPM secretary. "We condemn the attack and have filed a complaint with Phansidewa police. The election commission has also been informed."