BJP leader Arjun Singh’s guards allegedly fired in the air several times after some residents of Belgachhia in north Calcutta protested against a roadside rally of the party on Friday evening, police said.

No one was injured, the police said.

Allegations have surfaced that multiple bullets were fired in the air by Singh’s guards, apparently to pacify a crowd of protesters who had gathered around the dais. “An investigation is on to ascertain the sequence of events and the identity of the persons who fired,” an officer said.

Singh, who was on the dais, said he and other BJP leaders at the meeting were attacked, which prompted his guards to fire in the air.

“Some people attacked us. My guards had no other option,” Singh, an MP, told a news channel.

The place where the incident happened is in the Cossipore-Belgachhia Assembly constituency, which will go to the polls on April 29.

Shibaji Singh Roy, the BJP candidate from the constituency, said he suffered injuries during a scuffle between BJP and Trinamul supporters.

The election commission has sought a report from the police on the firing.

A case has been lodged with Ultadanga police station. A large force was deployed in the area.

Several people in the neighbourhood said they were scared hearing the gunshots.

“We are habituated to rallies and roadshows. But people opening fire at a public rally in the heart of Calcutta is new,” said a homemaker, who lives in the locality.