The Trinamul Congress on Wednesday alleged that its leader in the Dinhata subdivision of Cooch Behar district had been abducted by BJP supporters.
“Nur Islam Mian was returning home with three party workers after a wedding last (Tuesday) night. When they reached Banstala, BJP-backed goons vandalised their car and abducted him,” Trinamul leader Sunil Roy Sarkar said.
He also said BJP supporters had barged into the house of Nirmal Barman, a Trinamul candidate for the panchayat polls, and threatened him with dire consequences if he didn’t join the BJP.
Trinamul workers blocked the Cooch Behar-Dinhata road on Wednesday to protest the two alleged incidents.
The BJP has denied the charges. “These are political stunts. The BJP has no connection with the incidents,” said BJP leader Ajoy Roy.
Barman has been fielded in a panchayat samiti seat of Dinhata 2 block.
Barman, who was also present at the protest, said: “They held me at gunpoint and threatened me with dire consequences if I do not defect to BJP. My child would be abducted if I do not listen to them, the attackers said.”
As the blockade continued, vehicular movement along the route came to a halt. Police officers went to the spot and spoke with the demonstrators. Finally, the latter dispersed at around 11.30am.
“These are political stunts. BJP has no connection with these incidents,” said Ajoy Roy, a BJP leader of Dinhata.
Assault charge
An independent candidate in Gitaldaha area of Dinhata has accused Trinamul supporters of assaulting his brother on Wednesday.
Hamidul Haque, a dissident Trinamul worker who is contesting as independent after being denied a party ticket, said last night, some Trinamul supporters assaulted Jamirul, his brother, at Konamukta village, today afternoon.
Police were informed and a team from the Gitaldaha outpost reached the area. They brought Jamirul to the sub-divisional hospital in Dinhata where he is under treatment.
Minister’s call
Udayan Guha, the Trinamul MLA of Dinhata and the north Bengal development minister, called for opposition-free panchayats in his constituency.
In a social media post, Guha mentioned that all 12 panchayat-level presidents of his party in Dinhata-II block, should ensure that they secure all the seats in all these 12 rural bodies without a single winner from any other party.
So far, Trinamul has won four panchayats uncontested in the block.