The deputy chief of a Trinamool Congress-run gram panchayat in Howrah district on Monday allegedly assaulted a businessman and vandalised his house during a kangaroo court to settle a family dispute.

The incident comes a few days after police arrested a Trinamool Congress strongman, Tajemul Islam alias JCB, from Chopra in North Dinajpur district for allegedly whipping a woman and a man for having an extramarital relationship.

Monday’s incident occurred at Kanduwa under the jurisdiction of Sankrail police station. The main accused is Trinamool leader Sk Khalil Ahmed, who is the deputy chief of Panchla Jujurshah panchayat.

Ahmed and his men were allegedly trying to settle a dispute between Shahbuddin Sepai and his wife, who had left her husband’s house and was living with her parents in Panchla, Howrah, because of disagreements over their daughter’s marriage.

“My wife agreed to my daughter’s marriage against my wish and so we had a quarrel. She left and started living with her parents. Yesterday morning, I got a call from Ahmed who told me that they would like to convene a ‘salisi sabha (kangaroo court)’ in my house to settle the problem. Accordingly, I invited our panchayat samity member Arif Sepai to be present on the occasion. Some of my neighbours also came to my house,” Shahbuddin said.

“In the evening, Ahmed came with 15-20 youths and after the meeting, they started abusing and physically assaulting me unprovoked. As the other people left the place, I was alone and so I got scared and tried to leave the place. But they held me back. I somehow managed to escape,” he added.

Later, 150 to 200 youths reportedly arrived by vans and on motorcycles, armed with iron rods and sharp weapons. They proceeded to vandalise Shahbuddin’s nephew’s house, believing “their target” was hiding there.

“Shahbuddin called me for the meeting but I was a little late. They came ostensibly to resolve the issue, but we never anticipated such actions. Shahbuddin’s nephew reported that they had stolen ₹40,000 and jewellery from his house,” said Arif Sepai, who was present at the scene.

The perpetrators fled when Sankrail police arrived. Before they fled, the aides to Ahmed vandalised the house, destroyed several two-wheelers, damaged a car and pushed a mini-truck into a nearby pond.

Police sources indicated that an extensive search was going on and no arrests had been made yet. “We’re investigating all aspects of the case,” said a senior officer of Sankrail police station.

Asked about the incident, Ahmed said: “I am not involved in this incident. Some people are trying to frame me because of political reasons.”