TMC man, BJP worker hurt as post-poll violence continues in Bengal district

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KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) functionary was shot at in a tea stall in Basirhat and bombs were hurled at another’s house in Amdanga as violence raged across North 24 Parganas in West Bengal from Friday night to Saturday. A BJP functionary was injured after he was beaten up in Haroa. Basirhat TMC functionary Altaf Mali, 38, was at a tea stall at Pifa Bazar when six to seven armed youths fired at him twice.The bullets hit Mali in his waist and back. He was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery. According to police sources, CCTV footage analysis revealed history-sheeter Ayub Gaji was among the attackers. Gaji was arrested eight years ago in a CPM man’s murder case and later in an NDPS case. He was released on bail.
As the news spread, a group of TMC supporters allegedly ransacked Gaji’s house and shop. His wife was also allegedly beaten up. TMC activists also blocked Nazat Road, demanding immediate arrest of Gaji and his aides. TMC’s Basirhat South MLA Saptarshi Banerjee said: “Since TMC won the Basirhat LS seat by a huge margin, BJP-backed goons have unleashed a reign of terror in the area.” BJP’s Agnimitra Paul, however, said, “The incident took place because of TMC’s syndicate rivalry.”
In another incident, bombs were hurled at the house of an Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) functionary Abdul Hannan at Amdanga’s Beraberia around 1.30am on Saturday. The family managed to escape unhurt while the house was damaged.