Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said over 130 people — Left and BJP supporters and even some candidates — from Cooch Behar district took refuge in his state after escaping from alleged attacks by the Trinamul Congress following the panchayat elections.
Biswa Sarma of the BJP said in a tweet that 133 persons “who feared their lives” because of violence sought refuge in the Dhubri district of Assam on Monday.
“We have provided them with shelter in a relief camp, as well as food and medical assistance,” he tweeted.
The Telegraph had reported on Monday that on the polling day (July 8), supporters of the Left Front and the BJP, along with some candidates, had been attacked by suspected Trinamul supporters in Cooch Behar district.
While a section of them fled to a village in neighbouring Bangladesh through an unfenced area, others sneaked into Assam.
“We consider the people of West Bengal as our valued and respected neighbours. During the previous assembly election in West Bengal, we extended the same assistance. Please be assured that you can rely on us for any humanitarian aid during times of crisis,” Biswa Sarma tweeted.
Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari also took to twitter to thank Biswa Sarma. "The tormented workers" of parties in the Opposition, especially the BJP, have faced poll-related violence and “found it safe to cross over (to Assam) with their families for their safety,” Adhikari said in a tweet.
Sources said the CPM and the BJP supporters were staying at Ranpagli MV School in Dhubri district.
“People from some areas of Tufanganj 1 block are at the relief camp. We have been forced to leave our villages after Trinamul supporters vandalised our homes," said Mijanur Rehman, a CPM candidate from Balabhut in the block.
The CRPF and Assam police are guarding the camp, he said.
Trinamul leaders denied the charges. “This is nothing but a publicity stunt. As the Left and the BJP have failed to perform in Cooch Behar in the rural elections, they are trying to malign the state government and our party,” said Avijit De Bhowmik, the Cooch Behar district Trinamul president.
