There was no end to poll-related violence in Bengal with Congress leader and Union Minister of State for Health AH Khan Chowdhury on Tuesday alleging attack by Trinamool Congress supporters while he was campaigning during the noon for his party candidates at Kaliachak in Malda, some 400 km from Kolkata.
Though the charges were summarily rejected by Bengal Ministers and the police who claimed some people “might have burst some chocolate bombs”, the Minister said bombs were hurled at his vehicle and shots fired by Trinamool Congressmen who threatened him with dire consequences if he did not leave the area forthwith. “We were saved narrowly,” he maintained.
“They not only hurled bombs and fired bullets but they also threatened me,” Khan Chowdhury said, adding “I immediately asked my driver to retreat sensing danger.”
The police, however, claimed there was no such incident. “As per the reports received by me from the District SP, some sounds were heard from far away area which might have been misconstrued. There was no attack because the police party was accompanying the honourable Minister,” Anuj Sharma IG law and Order said.
Rejecting his claim, Khan Chowdhury, the younger brother of Bengal Congress patriarch and former Railway Minister ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury said, “The police were left far behind my vehicle as we had proceeded quite ahead during the campaign. It was during this time that we were accosted and bombs burst. The Trinamool Congressmen were talking in a threatening tone and I thought it prudent to leave the area immediately.” The Prime Minister had enquired after his well being, the Minister said, adding Praful Patel had also called up on behalf of party president Sonia Gandhi.
The incident took place at Jadupur village near Kaliachak in Malda district. An FIR was registered with the Kaliachak police station. Denying reports of the attack, Bengal Minister and Malda MlA Savitri Mitra said, “The Congress is fast losing its toe-hold in Malda so it is trying to garner some sympathy votes. The allegation of the Minister is a move in that direction.”
Her Cabinet colleague Krishnendu Chowdhury said, “The allegations are baseless and if the Congress can prove it I will quit my post.”
Junior Railway Minister Adhir Chowdhury said “The Trinamool Congress has lost the ground beneath its feat and so it is trying to win the panchayat polls with the help of gun-totting goons riding motorbikes. If a Union Minister is attacked like this we can only imagine the condition of the common man in the current regime.”
While the IGP said an investigation was on, Union Minister Deepa Dasmunshi wondered how the Ministers of the State could give conclusive statement on whether an attack had taken place when a Union Minister was alleging such attack.
PCC president Pradip Bhattacharya was rushing to Malda on Wednesday, senior leader Manas Bhunia said, adding Rahul Gandhi had also been apprised of the matter.
The five-phase panchayat polls in Bengal had been marred by violence and booth-capturing with three deaths being reported on Monday the second phase of the polls.
1. Union Minister AH Khan Chowdhury convoy attacked with bombs allegedly by TMC men but Bengal Police and ruling party deny charge. Opposition blame Bengal Ministers for inciting supporters. (400 words).