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Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J.P. Nadda's convoy was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengals when the BJP chief along with other party leaders was heading out to attend a rally on Thursday.
The incident took place near Shirakol area when Nadda was on his way to address a rally at Diamond Harbour's Radio Station Ground this afternoon. The bullet-proof vehicle in which Nadda was travelling was alleged to have been attacked by Trinamool Congress-backed hooligans, sources said.
Apart from Nadda, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, national vice-president Mukul Roy, national spokesperson Sambit Patra and party leader Anupam Hazra's vehicles were also attacked by irate alleged Trinamool supporters, armed with party's flags.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra's car ransacked while he along with other party members were travelling in West Bengal pic.twitter.com/vGcsw3RcTa
— OTV (@otvnews) December 10, 2020
The windshields of cars of Nadda's convoy was damaged as the miscreants launched a violent attack by hurling, bricks, iron rod and glass bottles.
A few central forces jawans, who were in-charge of the convoy security, and one BJP supporter were injured in the attack. Some of the BJP activists were forcibly dragged out of their cars and beaten up black and blue on the way while reaching the meeting venue.
"Our convoy was attacked by Trinamool supporters who launched a violent attack on Naddaji's convoy. It is nothing but a jungle-raj that is going on in Bengal. They have also attacked media persons who were accompanying the convoy," said BJP leader Anupam Hazra.
Earlier, Nadda was shown black flags allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters when he arrived in Kolkata's Hastings area to inaugurate the party's election office on Wednesday evening.
The incident took place outside the newly-opened BJP office when about 50 people tried to wave black flags and shouted "BJP go back" slogans as Nadda was about to enter the building. BJP activists also came out and tried to reply to the protesters with counter sloganeering.
According to sources, a political meeting was going on at Shirakol area showing solidarity with the nation-wide farmers' protests when Nadda's convoy was passing through the area and was attacked.
Meanwhile, the Centre has sought a report from the West Bengal government on the alleged "serious security lapses" during the visit of BJP president J P Nadda to the state.
The Union home ministry's communication to the West Bengal government came after BJP state unit chief Dilip Ghosh wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday.
In his letter, Ghosh alleged that a "mob" of over 200 people with sticks and bamboos were demonstrating raising black flags in front of BJP's state unit office in Kolkata.
He also claimed that some of the protesters climbed on cars parked outside the party's office and raised slogans, and the "police did not intervene to stop them and casually allowed them to come within a close perimeter of Nadda ji's vehicle".
The ministry has sought a report from the West Bengal government on the alleged "serious security lapses" during the BJP president's visit, the circumstances and what action has been taken on it, a home ministry official said.
In his letter on Wednesday, Ghosh had also said, "Today during his different engagement in Kolkata, it was observed that there was serious lapses on security arrangements, purportedly due to negligence and/or casual approach of the state police department."
Nadda is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, where assembly election is due next year, and on Thursday, stones were hurled at his convoy, when it was on its way to Diamond Harbour in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district from Kolkata.
(With IANS/PTI Inputs)
