CPM leader assaulted in panchayat poll violence

Veteran CPM leader Basudeb Acharia was assaulted allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters as clashes broke out in several districts between activists of the TMC and opposition parties — BJP, Congress and Left — in continuing political violence during filing of nominations for the May panchayat polls.

Several people were injured in yesterday’s clashes involving the ruling Trinamool Congress and Congress in Kandi area, Murshidabad district, and between BJP and TMC workers in Coochbehar and Birbhum districts

Homemade explosives were hurled in Birbhum’s Mohammad Bazar area following a scuffle between BJP and TMC workers over the filing of nominations for the panchayat polls. A huge contingent of police personnel was rushed to the spot.

‘Under control’

“The situation is right now under control,” said a police official.

Poll-related violence was reported from Nalhati and Labhpur in the district over the past few days.

District BJP leaders alleged that goons supported by the TMC brutally beat up BJP candidates when they were on their way to file nominations. The allegation was denied by the district TMC leadership.

West Bengal has been rocked by political violence since the filing of nominations started for panchayat polls on April 2.

The last date of filing nomination is April 9.

In Purulia, septuagenarian CPM leader and ninetime MP Acharia was assaulted allegedly by TMC supporters near the block development office at Kashipur on Friday, party sources said yesterday.

Acharia was accompanying CPM candidates who were on their way to file nominations at the BDO office for the panchayat polls.

He was later admitted to Purulia Sadar hospital with abdominal injuries.