Babu Mian, the 34-year-old Trinamul supporter who died during an attack at a village in Cooch Behar on Tuesday, held dual citizenship of India and Bangladesh and was involved in illegal activities, Nisith Pramanik, the Union minister of state for home affairs, alleged here on Wednesday.

Pramanik, speaking with newspersons at the district BJP office, furnished papers and played a video to prove his point.

“His Aadhaar shows his name as Babu Rehman. He also has a Bangladeshi voter card and his name has been registered as Mohammad Abdur Rehman. His father and wife are Bangladeshi citizens. He was arrested a number of times by the Bengal police and by Border Guard Bangladesh for illegal activities,” said Pramanik, also the Cooch Behar MP.

On Tuesday, Babu and six others were attacked by suspected Bangladeshi goons who reached Jaridharala village through an unfenced stretch. They opened fire at Babu and others with him. All seven suffered bullet injuries. Babu, who was hit by a bullet in his chest, was also hacked by goons. He died on the spot. The criminals fled.

Trinamul leaders accused the BJP of orchestrating the attack on their supporters by engaging goons from Bangladesh.

“A number of police cases are pending against him. Trinamul leaders and even a section of police officers claimed that he is a Trinamul worker. They levelled baseless allegations at the BJP. Whatever happened yesterday (Tuesday) was a gang war between two criminal groups,” Pramanik said on Wednesday.

Trinamul leaders were quick to attack the BJP. “The BSF looks after the India-Bangladesh border. If criminals are crossing the border and taking shelter in bordering villages, it means lapses in security. Nisith Pramanik should take responsibility as BSF functions under his ministry, and resign,” said Udayan Guha, the NB development minister and the Trinamul MLA of Dinhata.

In Cooch Behar, fresh political violence was reported on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.

Shahinur Rehman, the brother of a Trinamul candidate contesting a panchayat seat in the Gitaldaha-I block of Dinhata, was shot at and injured on Tuesday night.

Trinamul has blamed the BJP. The BJP, in turn, has blamed Trinamul’s infighting.

On Wednesday around 3.45 pm, Trinamul and CPM supporters clashed at Dakghora, a locality in Sitalkuchi.

Reportedly, gunshots were fired and a bike was torched. Police have brought the situation under control and are patrolling the area, local sources said.