Bengal Assembly elections 2021: Violence erupts at Nandigram, seven injured in 24 hours

Trinamul youth leader and booth president were attacked allegedly by a 150-strong group of BJP supporters

An SUV of Trinamul workers after it was attacked at Nandigram: The Telegraph picture

Anshuman Phadikar   |   TT   |   Nandigram(Bengal)   |   19.03.21: Seven persons were injured in two incidents of violence involving supporters of the Trinamul Congress and the BJP at Nandigram in East Midnapore in the past 24 hours.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is the Trinamul Congress’s candidate at Nandigram where the BJP has fielded her former protégé Suvendu Adhikari.

The violence started when Trinamul youth leader Samrat Tapadar and booth president Gautam Pal were attacked allegedly by a 150-strong group of BJP supporters around 8.30pm on Wednesday. The two had been campaigning at Bhekutia in the constituency.

“They were singled out and beaten up. Tapadar’s skull was broken,” said an eyewitness. Tapadar and Pal have been admitted to Nandigram Super-speciality Hospital. The duo’s vehicles were also reportedly destroyed.

At least four BJP workers and one from Trinamul suffered grievous injuries in a clash that broke out when a convoy of Adhikari was trying to enter Sonachura. Adhikari is protected by paramilitary personnel.

Sources said Trinamul workers had been carrying on agitation regarding the Bhekutia attack as well as the decision of Calcutta High Court to reopen a case concerning the 2007 land movement on the basis of a petition by BJP Nandakumar candidate Nilanjan Adhikari. Sixty-three warrants were against residents of the area as a consequence.

“The incident set off a lot of people, as the issue is a sensitive one. They came armed with black flags and chappals on Thursday to aim at Suvendu,” said an eyewitness.

When the Nandigram candidate was finally able to reach his rally venue around 10am, he was met with cries of “Suvendu go back” from villagers.

Referring to the clashes at Sonachura, in which Trinamul youth leader Khokan Shit was grievously injured by BJP workers, Suvendu said: “Yuva Morcha workers were almost beaten to death because Trinamul is now afraid of losing the polls.”

Trinamul Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien on Thursday submitted a formal complaint to the chief electoral officer in Calcutta demanding strict action against Suvendu. Trinamul MP Dola Sen also visited injured workers at Nandigram Super-speciality Hospital later on Thursday.

In West Midnapore, BJP candidate Shital Kapat and her supporters were reportedly attacked near Kotulpur on Thursday afternoon. BJP workers raised a road blockade in the area to protest the attack.