TMC leader shot dead

The journalists who reached the area upon hearing about the incident were thrashed by local Trinamool leaders. Two photo journalists of two new channels suffered critical head injuries and were admitted to a local hospital,said sources in the police.

While the local MLA claimed that Tanti had some personal enmity,sources in the Trinamool ranks claimed the incident to be an instance of area domination by a party rival.

Noapara MLA Manju Basu said,“I have asked the police to investigate into the matter neutrally. It is seen that the police act in a hurry in most of such cases and are unable to nab the culprits. I want the locals to be safe in the area.”

Meanwhile,pre-poll violence continued in several districts in the state on Friday. Trinamool district president in Birbhum claimed that some party candidates,who were on their way to the sub-divisional office in Bolpur for filing nominations,were attacked by some miscreants led by a Trinamool MLA. They also allegedly set fire on roads. Mondal said: “There are some leaders who do not want the election to be peaceful. They try to stop our candidates from filing nominations. Local Trinamool MLA Gadadhar Hazra is behind this incident.” Hazra,however,denied the claim.

Elsewhere at Jamuria in Burdwan district,Trinamool workers allegedly attacked a CPM candidate and torched a local party office. CPM supporters also allegedly set a TMC office on fire at Raina in Burdwan. CPM candidates were reportedly attacked and forced to withdraw their nomination at Bilkindi area in Barrackpore in North 24-Paraganas.