Thatched houses of a CPM polling agent and another party worker were set on fire by alleged Trinamul activists at Paikuni village near Illambazar on Tuesday night.

The CPM said Sheikh Khilafat had been facing threats ever since he had enrolled himself as the polling agent of the party.

“Eight Trinamul workers came with bamboo sticks suddenly and attack Khilafat’s house. Members of his family were inside and managed to flee,” Gautam Ghosh, a CPM state committee member, said.

Another CPM worker’s house nearby was also set ablaze by alleged Trinamul members.

Trinamul, however, said the homes had been set afire in retaliation for an arson attack on its supporter.

A large team of Illambazar police reached the spot. The blaze was doused by fire engines from Bolpur.

In another incident, activists of the BJP and Trinamul clashed at Thiba village in Birbhum’s Labhpur around Tuesday midnight. A woman suffered injuries as the warring groups allegedly hurled crude bombs at each other.

A contingent of central forces and police conducted raids in the area following the clash. The police said some people had hurled stones at a bus in which the force had arrived and broken its glasses.

Two BJP workers were allegedly beaten by Trinamul workers at Rajatpur village in Bolpur. Trinamul has denied the charge.