Violence erupted in two places of Malda district on Sunday as supporters of Trinamul and the Left-Congress alliance clashed during elections of the guardians’ representatives of two state-aided madrasas.

Police had to rush to the spot to disperse the activists of both camps but tension prevailed till polling was over. On Sunday, elections of the guardians’ representatives were scheduled at the Nayatuli Mahanandapur High Madrasah in Chanchal-I block and at GSA High Madrasah in Pukhuria of Ratua-II block.

At both, police arrangements were made to avoid trouble as political parties, which field candidates for these polls see these as warm-up sessions ahead of the panchayat elections. As the polls began, supporters of Trinamul, the Congress and the Left — the latter two have teamed up to field nominees — reached the institutions.

In Chanchal, Congress supporters alleged that Trinamul supporters were standing within 100 metres of the polling station — the madrasa concerned — and violating the prohibitory orders.

A scuffle ensued and both sides attacked each other with stones and sticks. Policemen pushed them back. Some cops were also hit by stones. The situation came under control eventually but the groups stayed on.“Trinamul supporters attacked our men. We are unhappy with police. Our supporters were shoved away. Trinamul dominated the area,” said Maksud Alam, a Congress leader. In Pukhuria, both the sides got into rounds of scuffles as Congress and the Left alleged that Trinamul was trying to rig the polls. A.T.M. Rafikul Hossain, a Trinamul leader, brushed aside the charges.

“Our workers were calm but those from the other side attacked without provocation,” he said.“We are aware of the situation and making all necessary arrangements. There were some sporadic incidents, but as a whole elections in both the madrasas were peaceful,” said a police officer.