Hundreds of BJP supporters hit the streets of Malda district on Monday to protest the attack on Malda party candidate Gopal Chandra Saha.

On Sunday night, miscreants had fired at Saha while he was returning from campaign. He is still under treatment at Malda Medical College and Hospital.

Family members of Saha have filed a complaint with police. “They have not named anybody in the attack. A person has been detained in connection with the attack,” said a source in the district police.

The investigators suspect a sharpshooter was engaged to kill Saha. While he was moving through Sahapur in Old Malda, the incident happened.

“The bullet had hit his neck. We suspect a professional shooter was involved in the case,” a police officer said.

Doctors said they had extricated the bullet. “He is under observation,” said a doctor.

On Monday, state BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu and district BJP leaders visited the medical college and spoke to doctors about Saha’s condition.

Basu said: “We do not want to politicise the incident. Police are investigating the case. We have come to the hospital to know about his condition. He is better and would hopefully resume his campaign shortly.”

Trinamul leaders have distanced themselves from the attack and said it might have been the consequence of internal feuds of the BJP.

“We have heard there was opposition within the party when Saha was named as the candidate. Also, a BJP dissident was deterred from submitting nominations as an Independent. We hope the police will unveil the truth. Trinamul has no connection with the incident,” said Subhamay Bose, a spokesperson for Trinamul’s Malda district unit.