Bengal polls: BJP candidate thrashed in Diamond Harbour, 2 arrested

A BJP candidate and his supporters were allegedly thrashed in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas during ir election campaign on Friday morning, police said.

BJP's Diamond Harbour candidate Dipak Halder was campaigning in Haridebpur area around 9.30 am when his supporters got engaged in a war of words with a few people, y said.

Amid verbal duel, Halder and his supporters were allegedly thrashed with sticks, police said.

Halder, a TMC MLA who joined BJP ahe of elections, was mitted to a hospital following attack.

"He complained of chest pain and or problems. He is being attended by doctors," a senior police officer said.

Halder's injured supporters were also mitted to hospital, he said.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with attack, police said.

BJP alleged that TMC was behind attack, a charge dismissed by ruling party.

TMC claimed that attack on BJP candidate was a result of infighting as party's old-timers were not happy with Halder's candidature.

Following attack, BJP supporters also blocked National Highway 117 but were promptly removed by police.

Diamond Harbour is also Lok Sabha constituency of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.