Gunfire and stone pelting just hours before PM rally

Kolkata: Hours before PM Modi addressed a rally at Jagaddal in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Monday, clashes broke out barely 400m from the venue between TMC and BJP workers, which escalated into gunfire, stone pelting and crude bomb attacks, leaving a CISF jawan wounded with bullet injuries.

Six others were also injured. The jawan, Yogesh Sharma, has been taken to a private hospital.

Police have arrested four people, including TMC councillor Gopal Routh. The EC has sought a report.

BJP's Noapara candidate, Rajesh Kumar, said the unrest began after he went to Jagaddal police station to file an FIR against CM Mamata Banerjee. He alleged police refused to register it and that a mob of around 200, linked to TMC, stormed the station and attacked him, forcing police to "flee the spot".

Trinamool candidate Amit Singh disputed his version. "We went to lodge a complaint against BJP for attacking our workers. We were attacked first. Arjun Singh (ex-BJP MP) arrived there, shoving and pushing everyone, as seen in CCTV footage, and sparked the violence," he said.

BJP workers alleged TMC-backed miscreants targeted Arjun's son and Bhatpara candidate Pawan Singh's residence with stones and gunfire. The CISF jawan, part of his security detail, was shot in the leg.

Police said a mob of around 200 entered the station, and later attacked a candidate's residence with explosives and firearms.

Arjun said Trinamool's Somnath Shyam, also a candidate, and Barrackpore MP Partha Bhowmick led miscreants in a planned attack to disrupt the PM's rally. "Shots were fired and bombs were hurled at Pawan Singh's house," he said. In turn, Shyam blamed Arjun Singh for bringing "miscreants".

Meanwhile, Election Commission said a candidate's visit triggered the mob.

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