Raiganj: Suspected Congress supporters carrying bombs and firearms attacked a group of Trinamul activists who assembled near the Gopalpur gram panchayat office in Malda on Monday for the formation of the rural board, killing two men and injuring a three-year-old boy who was hit with splinters from explosive devices.
While Salam Sheikh, 25, died on the spot, Ajhar Sheikh, 60, succumbed to injuries while on way to Malda Medical College and Hospital. Both the Trinamul members had been hit by bullets.
Zeeshan Sheikh, the three-year-old, has been admitted to the Malda medical college. Two others also suffered serious injuries from the splinters. The three were among the villagers who gathered near the panchayat office at Hukumattola in Manikchak block to witness the board formation by Trinamul.
Sources said Trinamul and the Congress had won five seats each of the 10-member panchayat in the elections in May. However, a few days ago, all the five of the Congress joined Trinamul.
"Local Congress activists were annoyed with the defection. As Trinamul supporters thronged the panchayat office today (Monday), Congress members arrived with bombs and forearms. They lobbed bombs and opened fire. Two activists of the ruling party suffered bullet injuries and died," said a source.
The frightened villagers dispersed and locked themselves up at homes.
"Congress supporters organised the attack in front of police. The attackers didn't spare a three-year-old boy either. We want all the attackers to be arrested," said Babla Sarkar, the working president of Trinamul in Malda.
Arnab Ghosh, the superintendent of police, Malda, arrived with additional forces.
The Congress has denied the charge and said the attack was the result of factionalism in Trinamul.
"There were differences among Trinamul workers which led to the attack. Our party has been dragged into the incident out of political motives," said Hemant Sharma, a district general secretary of the Congress in Malda.
Violence related to formation of rural boards has been reported from Lakkhipur panchayat in Chopra block of North Dinajpur also.
Suspected Congress supported hurled stones at a vehicle of the block administration which was making public announcements on Sunday about the board formation at Lakkhipur the following day. They also damaged a barricade raised by the police near the panchayat office.
Trinamul won all 15 seats at Lakkhipur. The Congress alleged that Trinamul had resorted to violence during the voting, spoiling its chances.
The police conducted raids on Sunday night to round up the attackers. Infuriated by the raids, the Congress supporters cut off a stretch of the road leading to the panchayat office. Tree trunks and bamboos were laid on the road to prevent traffic.
The roadblocks were removed by the police on Monday. The law enforcers escorted the winning candidates to the panchayat office where the board was formed amid tight security.
Suspected Congress supporters assembled nearby and lobbed bombs at the office. The police chased them away and escorted the panchayat members out of the office safely.
On a day the ruling party accused the Congress of the attacks, Mausam Noor, the Malda (North) MP and district Congress president, asked winning candidates of the party to support anyone other than those from the BJP.
"We have to stop the BJP in Malda and it has been decided that wherever we do not have majority, our candidates will support other parties to form boards," said Mausam.
In Alipurduar district, Trinamul and BJP supporters clashed over formation of the board in Parongerpar panchayat under Falakata block on Monday. Both the parties have won six seats each in the panchayat.
The BJP members alleged that Trinamul cadres did not let them enter the office and assaulted them. Trinamul formed the board.
In Rajabhatkhawa panchayat, the pradhan couldn't be selected as two groups of Trinamul supporters attacked each other.
Additional reporting by Anirban Choudhury in Alipurduar
