Tapan Sikdar, Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, was injured on Monday in a clash between BJP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists at Kapur in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
According to BJP leader Muzaffar Khan, 'armed' CPI (M) workers allegedly attacked Sikdar who was severely injured.
Khan said the minister had gone to visit two party women panchayat poll candidates allegedly assaulted by Marxists on Saturday at Kenia-Khamarpara village in Barasat.
He said the CPI (M) activists overpowered the security guard of the minister and damaged Sikdar's car. The minister later lodged a complaint with the North 24-Parganas district magistrate.
State Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Chayan Mukherjee, however, could not confirm whether Sikdar was injured.
According to him a group of CPI (M) workers blocked Sikdar's car at Kapur when he was going to address a panchayat poll rally at Kaipul village. The holdup resulted in a clash between activists from both sides.
Three BJP and three CPI (M) activists were injured, Mukherjee said, adding that the police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the groups. 15 persons were arrested and a firearm seized from a BJP worker, he added.
BJP workers blocked a part of the VIP road linking N S C Bose airport and the metropolis to protest the incident.
Meanwhile, the Congress voiced concern over the increasing attacks on MPs during the Zero Hour in Parliament. Party Deputy Leader Shivraj Patil asked the government to discuss with the opposition the issue of providing adequate security to lawmakers.
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