CISF jawan injured in firing outside Bengal BJP candidate’s house; stone-pelting, 'crude bombs' hurled in Bhatpara

KOLKATA: A CISF jawan was injured in a firing incident outside BJP candidate Pawan Singh’s residence in Bhatpara, located in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, prompting the Election Commission to seek a report, officials said on Monday.The incident took place late Sunday night, ahead of the second phase of polling scheduled for April 29.The injured personnel, identified as Yogesh Sharma, was part of the security detail of BJP candidate Pawan Singh, son of senior party leader Arjun Singh. Sharma sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was admitted to a hospital, an official said.The Election Commission has sought a report on the incident, while police said it is yet to be ascertained who fired the shot.According to police, tension had escalated in the Jagaddal area on Sunday evening after a Trinamool Congress worker was allegedly assaulted by a group of men while putting up party flags and banners.Several TMC leaders later reached the local police station to lodge a complaint, officials said."Soon after, supporters of both sides gathered there, leading to a heated exchange of words that escalated into a scuffle. Stone-pelting was also reported outside the police station before the situation was brought under control," the officer said.Tension escalated again later near Singh’s residence, where eyewitnesses alleged that crude bombs were hurled and at least one round was fired."Our worker was assaulted. When we went to file a complaint, we were attacked. We believed a police station was the safest place, but that notion has been shattered," a local TMC leader alleged.The BJP, however, denied the allegations and claimed that its supporters were targeted, alleging that the CISF jawan was injured in firing by TMC-backed miscreants.The TMC rejected the charge and accused the BJP of being responsible for the violence.A heavy police presence has since been deployed in the area, and further investigation is underway.(With agency inputs)