| |
|---|
News Desk: A day after the BJP Keshpur candidate’s car was attacked in West Medinipur district while he was touring his constituency, another party candidate was targeted in the state.
BJP Diamond Harbour candidate Dipak Halder and his supporters were allegedly thrashed in Haridebpur area of South 24 Parganas during their election campaign on Friday morning.
Following a verbal duel, Halder and his supporters were allegedly thrashed with sticks, police said. Dipak Haldar was taken to Diamond Harbor District Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the attack, police said.
The BJP, meanwhile, accused the TMC of targeting Dipak Haldar. “When he went to the area, miscreants attacked our candidate. We will give a befitting reply. Central forces were present and yet they attacked the BJP candidate. They beat up the candidate using bamboo sticks,” a BJP supporter said. The BJP worker also blamed TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee for the attack.
Abhishek Banerjee is the TMC MP from the Diamond Harbour which is seen as the party’s stronghold. Dipal Halder was a former TMC MLA and joined the BJP two months ago ahead of the assembly poll in the state.
While the BJP has openly blamed the Trinamool Congress, the TMC claimed that the attack on the BJP candidate was a result of infighting as the party’s old-timers were not happy with Halder’s candidature.
Following the attack on their candidate, BJP supporters staged a protest at NH117 block at Diamond Harbour and burnt tyres while raising slogans. Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd.
Diamond Harbour goes to the polls on April 6 in the third phase of the eight-phase Bengal election. A total of 31 constituencies are going to the polls in the third phase.
