The car of BJP’s Keshpur candidate Pritish Ranjan Konar, along with three vehicles of media persons, were attacked by stones, brickbats and sticks allegedly by Trinamul supporters at Baruna village under the constituency in West Midnapore on Thursday.
Keshpur was one of the 30 Assembly constituencies that went to polls on phase two of Bengal elections.
Police have arrested nine persons in this regard. The Election Commission sought a detailed report on the incident.
BJP sources said Konar, who is pitted against Trinamul’s Shiuli Saha in Keshpur, was told in the morning that Trinamul workers had captured a booth in Gunara village of Keshpur. He was headed there when he was allegedly waylaid by 40-odd Trinamul workers near Baruna.
BJP president of Ghatal organisational district Tanmoy Das said Trinamul goons ambushed their candidate at various places. “We could not communicate with our candidate for over an hour after he was attacked by Trinamul goons at Baruna. Later, he was attacked in at least three places. Trinamul has understood its defeat is confirmed and has resorted to violence,” Das said.
Trinamul leaders said the attack was by “common people of Keshpur” as a result of the BJP’s attacks on Trinamul.
“The BJP has killed and attacked our party workers in some places. The attack on the BJP (candidate) was the result of the anger of the common people of Keshpur. Our party has nothing to do with it,” said Ajit Maity, Trinamul president of West Midnapore.
TMC poll agent hurt
On Thursday evening, Anisur Rahaman, polling agent of Trinamul nominee Saha, was injured when BJP workers allegedly hit his head with an iron rod near Keshpur. Trinamul sources said Rahaman received injuries in his eyes and was admitted to a Midnapore hospital with severe head injuries.