Agartala, Nov. 4: Jirania is bristling with tension following an alleged assault by Congress workers on a DYFI leader last night.

The area is under Sadar subdivsion, 25km from here.

The assault on Biswajit De, 28, a trader and leader of the CPM’s youth wing came close on the heels of another alleged attack by Congress workers on SFI member Saumitra Das, 21, on October 27 in the Katacherra area, south of Jirania market.

De’s condition is stated to be critical while Das is still in hospital and is likely to be shifted to Calcutta soon for a spinal cord surgery.

Police sources said De, a leading cadre of Jirania, was returning home on foot from Jirania market after closing his shop. As he neared his home in Madhyapara, a group of Congress workers hiding in the dark pounced on him with clubs and machetes and indiscriminately hit him.

On hearing Biswajit screaming, the people of the area came out but the assailants had by then fled.

De who has sustained head injuries was rushed to GB Hospital, Agartala, around 10pm.

His family has lodged complaints against Congress workers Manik Das, Titon Muhuri, Ramu Shukla Baidya, Kajal Banik and Bilas Roy, all in their 20s, at Jirania police station.

“We have arrested all the accused who belong to the Congress and now the procedure of filing a chargesheet will continue,” the officer-in-charge of Jirania police station, R.K. Halder, said.

The Jirania local committee of the CPM today took out a protest rally in the market area to mobilise public opinion against the Congress.