Attacks ahead of voting in north

Supporters of Tarapada Das, a Mohammedbazar BJP candidate now in jail, tie a party flag for the campaign.
Picture by Dwijodas Ghosh

TT, Jalpaiguri/Raiganj: Incidents of violence occurred in different parts of north Bengal on Saturday night and on Sunday early morning, a day ahead of the panchayat elections.

In Jalpaiguri, BJP supporters alleged that Trinamul cadres had ransacked their houses in Choto Bajrapara under Paharpur panchayat of Sadar block.

On Sunday, a group of BJP supporters demonstrated at the Kotwali police station and filed a complaint, alleging that Trinamul activists had ransacked a number of shops and houses on Saturday night.

The BJP supporters have threatened that if the police cannot ensure their safety, they will stop Trinamul supporters from casting votes on Monday.

At Balatuli in Mangalbari under Malda police station, Marjina Biwi, a panchayat candidate fielded jointly by the Congress and the Left Front, was attacked by two Trinamul workers in the locality on Saturday night. She was returning home after campaign when the duo attacked and hacked her with sharp weapons.

Marjina sustained injuries to the head and hand and is under treatment at Malda Medical College and Hospital.

In North Dinajpur, Hasim Ali, an independent candidate contesting in panchayat from Abhor village under Raiganj police station, has filed a complaint with the police, alleging that a group of armed Trinamul workers had lobbed bombs at his home and fired in open to intimidate him and the villagers.

In Cooch Behar, a youth Trinamul worker Minajul Haque was injured at Bhoram village under Dinhata police station on Saturday night after some Trinamul workers of another lobby hurled a bomb at him.

The incident is the fallout of an acute infighting between youths and the mother party in Dinhata sub-division.

Jagadish Roy Basunia, the Trinamul MLA of Sitai, said Haque was carrying the bomb and had planned to attack workers of the other lobby when it exploded in his hand.