Lutihara village in Malda district turned into a battlefield on Sunday after a Citu leader was beaten up by some suspected Trinamul supporters, allegedly in the wake of the Banglar Awas Yojana (BAY) dispute.

Houses were torched as two raging groups attacked each other with bricks, sticks, and crude bombs.

Police had to rush to the spot to bring the situation under control. Police personnel have been posted now in the area for the upkeep of law and order.

Sources said recently that Danish Ali, Citu leader and a resident of Lutihara under Dakshin Chandipur panchayat in Manikchak block, filed a complaint with the district administration, alleging that names of 12 family members of Aduri Bibi, a former TMC member of the local panchayat, had included in the list of beneficiaries of the housing scheme.

Based on his complaint, the administration conducted an inquiry, and six names of Bibi's family members were deleted from the list.

This left Aduri angry. On Sunday morning, as Danish came out of his home, a group of suspected TMC supporters led by Abir Ali, Aduri's husband, attacked him.

Danish got severely injured. Attackers even tried to slash his throat, his family members alleged.

He was rushed to the rural hospital in Manikchak and later referred to Malda Medical College & Hospital.

As the news spread, Danish’s followers came out and attacked the other side. A clash ensued and four houses and a two-wheelerwere torched.

Runa Bibi, a relative of Danish, said Abir Ali and his men tried to kill Danish as his complaint led to the ouster of illegal beneficiaries fromthe list.

Aduri claimed the clash had nothing to do with the beneficiaries and blamed “an old family rivalry”.

The police have detained four persons. Probe is on.