The head of a BJP-run panchayat in Malda's Manikchak was arrested on Wednesday night for allegedly assaulting and molesting a member of the same rural body and his party, and thrashing her son.

Shakti Mandal, the BJP pradhan of Dakshin Chandipur panchayat in Manikchak, was accused by the woman and her son of corruption.

The son claimed that Shakti Mandal and some contractors, who are his aides, indulged in corruption over relief materials and funds after a recent flood.

“When my mother complained about those contractors, Shakti Mandal filed a false police complaint of extortion against me and a few other BJP workers," the son, a youth, added.

To settle differences, Partha Sarathi Ghosh, the BJP chief of Malda south (organisational) district, and Gour Chandra Mandal, a district general secretary, called a meeting at the BJP office in Dakshin Chandipur on Tuesday with Shakti, the woman and her son.

“At the meeting, Shakti and his aides suddenly turned violent and started beating my mother. She was even molested. As I rushed to her rescue, they did not spare me,” the son alleged.

The woman was admitted to the Malda Medical College and Hospital with a chest injury.

“The attack was recorded on CCTV cameras. We complained to the police about him (Shakti) and some others. We are happy he is arrested,” he added.

A court on Thursday ordered judicial custody for Shakti till November 29.

Ghosh called the incident "unfortunate".

Sabitri Mitra, the TMC MLA of Manikchak, said the incident showed what the BJP's rural elected representatives were.