Dumka, March 6: BJP candidate for Godda Lok Sabha seat Nishi Kant Dubey and about 12 of his supporters were allegedly attacked by members of a rival faction of the party at the platform of Jasidih railway station in Deoghar last night.

Dubey was manhandled and his clothes torn apart while his close associate and a former state committee member of the party’s youth cell, Bishnu Kant Jha, sustained serious head injuries.

However, the leader claimed that Congress and RJD party workers had attacked him. But eyewitnesses said that the assailants belong to the faction led by district BJP leader and Madhupur MLA Raj Paliwal, an aspirant for the Godda seat.

Jha has also alleged in an FIR filed with the Government Railway Police (GRP), Jasidih, that three BJP workers of Deoghar district, along with some unknown persons, had engineered the attack.

According to sources, Jha, along with several others, gathered at the platform around 12.30pm to receive Dubey, who was coming via Poorva Express. BJP supporters of the party’s Deoghar unit with black flags in hand were also reportedly present at the platform. Just as the train was supposed to chug into the station, they started shouting slogans against Dubey. “Go back…you do not belong to this place…we will not allow you to contest the polls from here,” the protesters shouted.

Dubey’s supporters immediately retaliated and a fight between the two groups followed. The situation soon spun out of control with the arrival of Dubey.

As soon as the leader alighted from the train, the mob pounced on him, tearing apart his clothes. The GRP, railway’s special commandos and railway protection force personnel somehow managed to rescue Dubey.

Some of his relatives managed to get fresh clothes for him and after changing, Dubey headed straight to the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar. Later, the BJP leader went to visit Paliwal, but the latter was not present. Meanwhile, Jha was admitted to Deoghar sadar hospital, where he received eight stitches on his head.

Dubey said that local Congress and RJD leaders had planned the attack to terrorise him. However, he was tightlipped when asked about the possible role of Paliwal in the incident. He also evaded reply when asked about Jha’s FIR.

Paliwal denied his involvement. Amarander Singh Munna, state committee member of the party in Dumka, has demanded a probe.