'TMC men' attack CPM campaigners

Kolkata: Four CPM workers were injured as a clash broke out between a group of Left campaigners and alleged Trinamool supporters at Lebutala slum in Beliaghata on Sunday. Three persons have been arrested.
CPM leaders lodged a complaint at the Beliaghta police station and also urged the Election Commission to take strict action to check "this kind of political hooliganism".Those arrested-Tapas Das, Poritosh Mondal and Samir Ranjan Das-were named by the CPM in the complaint. The Trinamool, however, denied the involvement of any of their party workers and claimed it was actually a fight between CPM supporters and some auto-drivers.
According to the CPM leadership, the incident took place in the morning when their party workers, led by DYFI district committee secretary Sandeep Natta, visited the slum to campaign for Left Front candidate Rajib Biswas. Some alleged Trinamool workers blocked their way, demanding they should immediately stop canvassing. When the CPM workers refused to give in to the arm-twisting, the Trinamool workers attacked them, said a source. Four CPM supporters who were injured were taken to NRS hospital.
"We were campaigning at Lebutala slum in support for Rajib Biswas. Suddenly, some people accosted us and asked us to stop campaigning. When we asked them the reason for such a demand, they refused to answer. They merely said there should be no campaigning in the area and none will go to vote. As we refused to stop, they pounced on us. They pushed us to the ground and beat us with sticks and bamboo rods. This went for a while before they left us, bleeding on the road," said Natta, one of the four who had to be hospitalized with multiple injuries.
The authorities at NRS Hospital confirmed Natta's had suffered a fracture in his head and a deep injury on his nose. "He was treated and discharged," a hospital official said. The three others were also discharged after being administered treatment.
The CPM later lodged a complaint at the Beliaghata police station against alleged Trinamool workers Tapas, Poritosh and Samir for allegedly attacking Sandeep Natta and his associates. The CPM also lodged a complaint with the EC, urging it to take action.
Based on the complaint, the police rounded up the trio in the evening. "We are looking into the matter and we will not spare anyone if they are found guilty," an investigating officer said.
The Trinamool, however, insisted none of their workers was involved. "It was a clash between local auto drivers and CPM workers, who are trying to call it a political clash. This is not correct. We have absolute command over the area and we don't need to fight with people to gain political control. The police are investigating the incident and the truth will come out," a local Trinamool leader said.