Supporters of the BJP and the Trinamul Congress clashed in East Midnapore’s Khejuri on Tuesday afternoon leaving at least 12 from both the sides injured.

The violence occurred a few hours before Trinamul turncoat Suvendu Adhikari was to lead a BJP rally at Heria.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred when hordes of unidentified youths appeared to block the path of vehicles headed for the BJP’s Heria rally, prompting a retaliation from occupants of the vehicles and a lathi-charge led by district police and Rapid Action Force.

The incident took place on roads adjoining Khejuri’s Tetultala, Baratala and Gholabar areas.

“Today supporters coming to our rally were stymied and attacked by Trinamul workers. Two mandal presidents had to be hospitalised,” Suvendu said while speaking later at the 4pm rally.

Suvendu’s rally was held in the wake of a mega rally that chief minister Mamata Banerjee addressed at Nandigram in the neighbouring East Midnapore district on Monday. In his speech, Suvendu brought up the issue of Mamata’s decision to contest from Nandigram.

“She cannot contest from both Nandigram and Bhowanipore. She must stick to Nandigram,” said Suvendu.

Referring to the violence that preceded his rally on Tuesday, Suvendu said he was giving district police time “till Sunday” to arrest those behind the attack, otherwise he would lead a dharna — accompanied by BJP Tamluk district president Nabarun Nayak and Contai district president Anup Chakraborty — in front of the office of the superintendent of police, Tamluk, from Monday.

“Workers were mercilessly pulled out of their vehicles by Trinamul workers and stoned. Crude bombs were also thrown,” said a BJP worker.

Trinamul district core committee member Mahmood Hossain said the claims that Trinamul workers had attacked first were false.

“Our supporters were heading for Madan Mitra’s rally at Vidyapeeth, which is 15km away from Heria. It was BJP workers who attacked us first when our processions had veered close to each other in our respective ways. So, we retaliated,” he said.

Earlier, 10 homes of BJP workers were reportedly ransacked late on Monday in the wake of Mamata’s mega rally.

“Several Trinamul inductees into our party refused to attend the CM’s rally yesterday (Monday). So, the party attacked them in retaliation,” said BJP district vice-president Pralay Pal.