Union Minister Nisith Pramanik's convoy was attacked in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal on Saturday. Allegedly the Trinamool Congress party supporters are behind this attack but the ruling party has dismissed the claim.
According to the reports, Nisith Pramanik was visiting the Block Development Office in the Sahibaganj area where the nomination papers were being scrutinised for the upcoming Panchayat polls.
The Union Minister told the media that he went to the BDO office after hearing reports against TMC supporters of allegedly blocking the roads near the office and engaging in malpractices.
Pramanik reportedly said, "When I attempted to visit the BDO office, my convoy was pelted with stones. Bombs were hurled at us. TMC activists beat up our party workers, and papers belonging to our candidates were destroyed. It is shameful that the police stood by as mere spectators."
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He also told the media that the Bharatiya Janata Party members were not allowed to enter the BDO office, he alleged that the TMC supporters cited Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code in the office premises and assembled outside of the office to prevent the BJP workers from entering.
What did Trinamool Congress say?
According to the reports, the ruling party has termed the allegations 'baseless'.
The union minister has insisted that the scrutiny process of the nomination papers be conducted in the presence of the central forces in the BDO office to ensure transparency.
Television footage showed clashes between activists of both parties, with crude bombs being thrown during the altercation.
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Reacting to the incident, TMC leader and North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha accused the BJP of "instigating its workers to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the state".
"The BJP is attempting to disturb the upcoming polls by creating unrest. The union minister, accompanied by central forces, tried to disrupt the scrutiny process. They are using central forces to spread fear," he claimed.
Widespread violence over the filing of nominations for the upcoming panchayat polls has left five people dead and several injured in various parts of the state.
(With PTI inputs)
