TMC, BJP workers clash in Bengal

KOLKATA: At least seven people were allegedly injured on Sunday during a clash between supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in several areas of East and West Midnapore districts of poll-bound West Bengal.

While the BJP maintained that the ruling TMC launched an attack on its members, the Trinamool has asserted that it has been “showing restraint in the face of provocation by saffron party supporters”. “BJP workers were attacked by the TMC with bamboo sticks when they were hoisting party flags at Marisda in East Midnapore. At least seven party workers were injured,” said a media statement issued by the BJP.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said such harassment would only help the BJP camp grow from strength to strength. “With every attack on our party workers, more people would come out in our support,” Adhikari, who quit TMC to join the BJP last month, told reporters during a roadshow in Purulia.

Local BJP leaders alleged that a few of its workers sustained injuries in the attack, even as the TMC claimed that infighting in the BJP led to the clashes. Some of the injured were taken to a state-run hospital in Contai, said a BJP leader who did not want to

be named. Local TMC leader Mamud Hossain refuted the allegations, asserting that his party was not associated with the attack. “Both the attacks were the result of BJP’S infighting between the old timers and newcomers,” he said.

A senior police officer from East Midnapore said that no complaints were lodged till 9 pm on Sunday.

In a separate incident, a minor clash broke out between the TMC and the BJP at Ananda

pur in the adjacent district of West Midnapore. Police said the clash broke out late on Saturday night. Four people were arrested in connection with the clashes that broke out at Anandapur in West Midnapore.