Kalimpong Police on Sunday arrested four persons from Sikkim for allegedly assaulting the 16-year-old daughter of a BJP candidate in Kalimpong and vandalising his vehicle on Saturday, the day of the panchayat polls.

On Saturday around 3.30pm, when the four allegedly barged into the house of the BJP gram panchayat candidate and damaged his vehicle, the girl tried to resist them.

“The accused attempted to outrage her modesty and assaulted her, causing her severe bleeding injuries on her body. They also tore her clothes,” said an administrative source.

The minor was sent to the hospital for medical treatment. Later, under the directive of the child welfare committee, she was sent to a shelter home. Police immediately initiated a case and started raids at various places in and around Kalimpong.

On Sunday morning, the four were arrested from a hotel in Sikkim, said Aparajita Rai, the Kalimpong SP.

The accused were identified as Saran Rai, Kishore Rai, Lachhuman Chhetri and Bikash Khawas, all of Lower Lamini Gaon in Chhota Bhalukhop, Kalimpong. They were sent in judicial custody by a Kalimpong court.

The event was a rare incident of violence during panchayat elections that were held in the hills after 22 years.

Violence had marred polling in the rest of Bengal on panchayat poll day.

Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista congratulated the Kalimpong police for the arrests but demanded charges of attempt to murder and sections under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act be slapped on the four.

Police have initiated cases under the Indian Penal Code of wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing grievous injury, use of criminal force outraging a woman's modesty and trespassing.

“I have reached out to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Union ministry of tribal affairs, informing them about this heinous crime and requesting their intervention,” Bista said.

The BJP MP also alleged the accused were affiliated with the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), the BJP's political rival in the hills.

The BGPM has denied any role in the charge.