BJP delegation attacked in Cooch Behar by TMC supporters
TMC denied involvement of its supporters in the alleged assault
Cooch Behar: Some BJP leaders were injured on Sunday after they were allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters near Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya campus in Cooch Behar-II Block.
The incident happened when the BJP delegation was on its way to Pundibari where a TMC supporter, identified as Narayan Mahanayak, was shot dead on November 29.
Leaders of the BJP district unit claimed that the killing was a fallout of the TMC factional feud over railway contracts.
Some BJP supporters were falsely implicated in the case and TMC 'goons' ransacked and looted the house of district BJP secretary Sukumar Roy, they alleged.
Cooch Behar district BJP general secretary Nikhil Ranjan Dey said that the BJP delegation comprised state vice-chairperson Malati Rava, vice-president Badsah Alam, secretary Rabindra Narayan Chaudhury, Jaiprakash Majumdar, district vice-chairperson Gayatri Kar, secretary Ajit Roy and district Yuva Morcha general secretary Shital Das.
Dey said, "When the vehicles reached the Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, an armed group of TMC supporters attacked them, damaging the cars and assaulting the team members."
Dey claimed the police and district administration had been informed prior to the visit, but there was lack of adequate police arrangement.
About 10 persons were injured, including Malati Rava and Ajit Roy, Dey said, adding Roy is undergoing treatment at MJN Hospital.
However, District TMC vice-president Abdul Jalil Ahmed denied involvement of their supporters in the alleged assault.
"BJP was behind the murder of the TMC supporter. Today angry local residents might have came out to question the BJP leaders why they came there. It is not true that TMC men attacked them," Ahmed claimed.
Cooch Behar district Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Yadav was not available for comment, but officers of the Cooch Behar police station confirmed that an investigation was initiated into the Pundibari incident.
BJP leader Jaiprakash Majumdar said the party would organise a law violation programme in front of the Cooch Behar district magistrate's office on December 18 to protest against the attack.