Infighting in Trinamool Congress; panchayat pradhan shot at

A Trinamool Congress panchayat pradhan and his son were today attacked in Burdwan district as a result of factional fighting in the party.

Neelkantha Ghosh, pradhan of Baikunthapur II panchayat, and his son Saurav were attacked at Baikanthapur in the evening, Burdwan Superintendent of Police SMH Mirza said. Five motorbikes, each carrying two persons, intercepted Ghosh and his son who were also going in a motorcycle, shot the pradhan in the left leg and severely beat up Saurav at around 8.30 PM, Mirza said.  Both the father and the son were hospitalised.

Saurav alleged that they were attacked by Bablu Paul, in-charge of health in the Trinamool Congress run panchayat, and others. He said there was a dispute between Ghosh and Paul over a land belonging to the PWD and Paul has moved a no-confidence motion which Ghosh was supposed to face tomorrow.  The attackers also threatened to gun down Ghosh's supporters if they dared to vote in favour of him in the no-confidence motion, Saurav alleged.

Paul, however, denied the accusations saying he was with minister Swapan Debnath in a programme at Mandela Park in Burdwnan town when the attack took place.

Claiming that the no-trust motion had been initiated as Ghosh was indulged in corruption, Paul said he already decided to withdraw the motion after consulting the party.