Santu Baul, 18, of Nadia’s Santipur and a first-time voter, was shot at by suspected BJP supporters on Saturday when he was returning home with friends after casting his vote.

A weaver’s son and a Trinamul supporter, Santu was hit by a bullet on his left palm at Mouchak Colony.

“Bike-borne youths shot at a group, singling out Santu. They also hurled crude bombs and fired shots in the air,” said an eyewitness, adding the boy’s friends rushed him to Santipur state general hospital.

“Santu lost a small piece of flesh as the bullet made a hole in his palm,” said a doctor.

In reply, Trinamul supporters allegedly thrashed suspected shooter Raju Debnath. The police rescued Raju and admitted him to the same hospital where his condition is serious.

Santu alleged BJP supporters had tried to prevent Trinamul supporters from voting. A murder-bid complaint has been filed against Raju.

BJP candidate and MP Jagannath Sarkar denied any political link in the attack.

“I suspect past rivalry,” he said.

Trinamul candidate Ajoy De said the BJP had “engaged goons to win the polls at any cost though it has no support base in Santipur”.