A Trinamul Congress ward committee president escaped an attempt on his life when unidentified assailants hurled bombs and fired six rounds at Bhatpara in North 24-Parganas on Sunday morning.
One bullet caused a mild injury to Ashok Saw, 44, as it grazed his back.
Saw was rushed to Bhatpara state general hospital. He was, however, released after primary treatment. While Saw apparently found no political connection with the attack and termed the incident as an “act by miscreants”, senior Trinamul leader Jyotipriyo Mullick has alleged BJP’s hand.
“BJP has began wreaking havoc and creating tension in Bhatpara. People will give them a fitting reply in time”, Mullick told reporters in Barasat later on Sunday afternoon.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 8.45am when the young Trinamul leader, a close aide of party strongman and local MP Arjun Singh, was going to local market to buy milk.
Saw and local sources claimed that while walking through lane 8 of Palghat road, assailants waiting near a restaurant located at the opposite end of the lane began firing. They also hurled a few bombs, unleashing panic among the local residents in the morning. Police began a case but no one was arrested till Sunday afternoon.
“I was walking towards the market when two bombs fell near me. This was followed by indiscriminate firing by the assistants. I tried to duck a few and escape running back. But one bullet caused an injury on my back”, Saw said.
Speaking to the reporters outside Bhatpara state general hospital, Saw claimed that the attack was a “planned” one.
“The activities of assailants have recently increased in several pockets of my ward. I raised my voice against the criminals.... This is what has led to the attacks. Recently I came to know that these people want to attack me, which eventually happened today”, Saw said, while refuting any political link behind the attack.
Saw filed a police complaint naming four persons as suspects.