The infighting within different lobbies of Trinamul in Malda came to the surface again on Sunday as two rival groups of Trinamul supporters clashed with each other during the managing committee elections of a madrasah in the district.

The groups lobbed crude bombs and attacked each other with bricks and sticks. A number of motorcycles were ransacked and some houses were also attacked.

Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Leaders of both lobbies have blamed the other side for the violence.

Sources said during the past few days, there was a simmering tension in Ratua block of the district over the election of the managing committee of Batna High Madrasah, a state-aided madrasah.

This is because two factions of Trinamul – one headed by party’s district president Abdur Rahim Boxi and local MLA Samar Mukherjee and another headed by former block Trinamul president Fazlur Haque – were desperate to gain control over the managing committee.

Both sides fielded candidates in all six seats of the committee. Today, as the elections started, a section of guardians who are supposed to cast their votes, accused that proxy votes have been cast during the polls.

This left Haque agitated, who alleged that the other lobby has indulged in rigging. “The district Trinamul president and the MLA engaged anti-socials. They have been intimidating our voters for the past few days and today, resorted to unscrupulous means,” he said.

As the protests continued, the groups got into an altercation and soon, the situation turned violent.

Both sides resorted to brick-batting and ransacked each other’s bikes. Stones were pelted on some nearby houses.

Policemen reached the spot. They used batons to disperse supporters of both factions. After some time, the situation came under control.

Boxi, the district Trinamul president, denied the charge. “We have fielded our candidates. Those who have pitted candidates against us are working against the party, with the help of some others,” he said.

Authorities of the madrasah have also denied the allegation of rigging.