A tea garden worker allegedly assaulted the garden’s manager and two other employees in Alipurduar’s Madarihat block on Thursday for not letting him join his duty.

Police are in search of the worker who the manager allegedly also opened fire in the air.

Sources said that around 8.30am, Garganda tea estate senior manager Shirshendu Biswas of the district went to a tea plantation for inspection.

There, worker Bobin Biswakarma asked Biswas why he is not being allowed to join. The manager told Bobin that he could not work in the garden as he had a police case pending against him.

Allegedly, an angry Bobin attacked Biswas with a stick repeatedly. “He also tried to hit my head but I managed to resist it,” said the manager.

By then, Surajit Paul, an assistant manager, and Arup Sonar, a clerk, who were nearby, rushed to save Biswas.

Bobin reportedly beat up Paul and Sonar too. “He then fired blankly and fled in a two-wheeler,” alleged the manager who filed a complaint with Madarihat police.

The injured trio were treated at Madarihat health centre.

A few years ago, Bobin had tried to kill the doctor posted in the garden. Since then, he has been under suspension.

“Search is on to nab the worker. We are also trying to confirm if he opened fire,” said a police officer.

Gaur attack

Mahabir Tigga of Jalpaiguri’s Nagrakata was gored by a gaur and injured when he was searching for his cattle on Thursday afternoon on the fringes of Diana forest. A team from Khunia forest range took Tigga to the super-specialty hospital in Jalpaiguri where he is being treated.