Supporters of Trinamul candidates and dissidents contesting as Independents for the July 8 rural polls clashed in North Dinajpur and Malda on Tuesday night.

At least 20 persons were injured. Police forces are patrolling the areas concerned.

In North Dinajpur, violence broke out in Basakpara of Islampur block as clashes erupted reportedly between supporters of Kanaialal Agarwala, the district Trinamul chief, and those of Abdul Karim Choudhury, the Trinamul MLA who has fielded several Independents.

Swapan Basak, the husband of Independent nominee Rakhi Basak, was attacked by suspected Trinamul supporters with sharp weapons.

As the news spread, his supporters allegedly attacked some Trinamul workers with sticks and rods. The other side retaliated and a clash ensued, injuring around a dozen persons from both camps. Five persons are reportedly serious.

Police controlled the situation.

“Trinamul workers are constantly threatening us,” said Rakhi.

Agarwala denied the charges. “Some Independents are trying to foment tension. Yesterday (Tuesday), their aides attacked our people,” he said.

In Malda's Manikchak, alleged supporters of a Trinamul candidate and an Independent (dissident Trinamul) candidate clashed on Tuesday night.

Jallu Sheikh, the Trinamul candidate contesting a seat in Manikchak panchayat, alleged his supporters were attacked by the followers of Rezaul Haque, vying for the same seat as an Independent after Trinamul denied him a ticket.

“His supporters roughed up Trinamul workers campaigning for me. Four of our workers were injured,” Sheikh alleged.

Denying it, Haque said: “One of my supporters was threatened by Trinamul supporters. They were forcing him to join their campaign. As he didn’t listen, they beat him."

Police restored normality. Both camps filed complaints against each other.

In Jalpaiguri, BJP workers in Banarhat's Nathua-Chamtimukhi accused Trinamul of attacking them on Tuesday night and injuring five party workers. Local Trinamul leaders called the charges "baseless".