The clash between Trinamul and the BJP in Dinhata on Tuesday night has prompted the Election Commission of India to seek a report from the Cooch Behar district magistrate.

After the Lok Sabha elections were announced, this was the first major political violence reported from any corner of Bengal.

According to sources, the DM has mentioned that the preliminary report that he received from the superintendent of police speaks of a scuffle breaking out when two persons got down from Cooch Behar BJP MP Nisith Pramanik’s convoy and engaged in a war of words with Trinamul supporters who celebrating the birthday of Trinamul Dinhata MLA and state minister Udayan Guha. The BJP supporters had alleged that Trinamul supporters were blocking the MP's convoy, and matters escalated from there.

“The DM sent a report to Aariz Aftab, the chief electoral officer of the state, on Wednesday, who in turn has sent it to Delhi. After going through the report, the EC might pass certain instructions to the administration,” said a source.

Located in the northern boundary of Bengal, Cooch Behar is known to be a politically volatile district. It also shares borders with Bangladesh and neighbouring Assam.

Over the past five-six years, political violence has been reported from different locations of the district, observers said.

“The intensity of such violence has been highest in Dinhata, where Trinamul and BJP leaders have been attacked, party workers have been killed, houses have been torched and vehicles ransacked. The district was also known for acute infighting within Trinamul, which seems to be a bit less these days after leaders here were regularly reprimanded by state Trinamul leaders, including Mamata Banerjee. Now that the elections are drawing ahead, we fear whether the poll will be peaceful,” said a veteran politician of the district.

He said that after Nisith Pramanik deserted Cooch Behar and joined BJP, the saffron camp gained grounds in the district.

“Since then, several clashes occurred among BJP and Trinamul. In May 2021, suspected BJP supporters attacked Udayan Guha and he ended up with a fractured hand. Again, in June last year, Pramanik’s convoy was attacked and he accused Trinamul for it,” he pointed out.

Also, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, the Trinamul MLA of Sitai whom the party has fielded against Pramanik this time, has frequently alleged that he could not enter his home because of BJP attacks.

After the 2019 general election and the Assembly elections of 2021, hundreds of BJP supporters in Cooch Behar had fled to Assam where they stayed in relief camps and alleged that their houses were set on fire or were ransacked for voting the BJP.

Eventually, police and the administration took the initiative to bring them back.

In these polls, the BJP, which won seven of eight Lok Sabha seats in north Bengal in 2019, is desperate to retain the seats and trying to increase its tally in the state. Trinamul is determined to oust BJP from this region which the saffron party considers its strong base.

“Arrangements will be made to uphold law and order through quick response and early intervention mechanisms,” a senior administrative officer said.