An extension official with the Kisan Mandi in East Midnapore's Nandigram was roughed up allegedly by BJP activists on Friday, leaving him seriously injured.

The incident took place in Haripur village, where eyewitnesses said that the officer was targeted by a group of BJP activists for trying to “manipulate” the local residents on agriculture-based issues including selective seed distribution.

“The altercation soon spiralled out of control, and police were called by eyewitnesses as soon as the situation got physical,” said a source, adding that senior gram panchayat officials in Haripur also responded to the incident.

Police said the BJP workers took out an impromptu protest march in the morning to the Mandi.

“Extension officer Bidyutbaran Mandal was heckled and targeted as soon as he left the confines of the Mandi,” a police source added.

Then, Mandal was allegedly beaten up by BJP workers. Following police intervention he was rushed to a local hospital. Later in the day, a visibly shaken Mandal spoke to reporters from the hospital. The official said he was taken aback by the suddenness of the attack on him.

“No sooner had I left the Mandi than I was attacked. Blows and slaps rained on me before I could gather myself,” he said. As the incident occurred in front of several people, it was recorded on camera by many present there.

Rahul Pandey, SDPO (Haldia), said seven persons had been detained as of Friday afternoon.

Asked to comment on the incident, Trinamul’s Nandigram block president Swades Das said BJP leaders were trying to “unsettle” Nandigram.

“Incidents like these show that the BJP are opposed to development and progress in the state. The culprits must be brought to justice,” he said.

BJP block leader Meghnad Pal insisted that the incident was the result of a “misunderstanding”. “This was not a planned attack at all. Our workers realised their mistake and apologised to Mandal on the spot,” said Pal.