Balurghat: Enraged BJP leader ‘hurls chairs’ at BDO

 Police start a probe against Subhash Sarkar, party's mandal sabhapati

BDO Anuj Sikdar, who was attacked allegedly by a BJP leader, being given an ice pack on Monday.: The Telegraph

Kousik Sen   |   TT  |  Raiganj   |   13.12.22 : The block development officer (BDO) of Balurghat in South Dinajpur was injured on Monday when a BJP leader, apparently angry over a thwarted no-trust motion in a panchayat, allegedly entered his chamber and hurled two chairs at him.

BDO Anuj Sikdar suffered injuries in his head and hand. Police started a probe against Subhash Sarkar, the BJP mandal sabhapati.

Sources said that in the 2018 panchayat elections, BJP won 11 of 20 seats at Danga panchayat under Balurhat. Trinamul won nine. The BJP formed the board.

Later, the pradhan joined Trinamul which left both parties with an equal number of seats.

A Trinamul member died last month, which left BJP with one more seat. After this, the BJP placed a no-confidence motion against the Danga pradhan. Accordingly, a meeting was convened at the panchayat office on Monday where the BDO’s representatives also went, but not the BDO.

“The BDO’s representatives asked the BJP to show they have 11 members. BJP members protested, saying that right now, there were only 19 members in the panchayat and 10 with them. The BDO’s representatives did not agree, which led to tension and the BJP could not table the motion,” said a source.

As BJP workers protested, Balurghat police dispersed them.

An angry Sarkar reached the BDO’s office, walked into Sikdar’s chamber, picked up two chairs, hurled them at him and left the chamber. His actions were captured on CCTV camera.

The police reached the BDO office. Sikdar was taken to the district hospital.

“I was in my chamber when Sarkar entered and suddenly threw chairs at me. I don’t know why he attacked me. I will take legal steps,” he said.

District BJP chief Swarup Choudhury said: “Our members faced humiliation at the panchayat. The BDO should have given importance to the no-confidence motion but didn’t. Some of our party workers got agitated.”

Trinamul leaders condemned the attack.