Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Priyangu Pandey was reportedly attacked while traveling in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, amid a 12-hour Bangla bandh called by the BJP. Pandey alleged that the assault was orchestrated by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, who allegedly opened fire and hurled bombs at his vehicle in Bhatpara.
According to Pandey, as he was en route to the residence of BJP leader Arjun Singh, his car was halted by a municipal jetting machine. “The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle. At least seven to eight bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then six to seven rounds of firing were done. This is a joint conspiracy of Trinamool and the police,” Pandey stated in a report by news agency ANI.
BJP leader Arjun Singh, who condemned the attack, claimed that the driver of Pandey’s vehicle was shot during the incident. Singh alleged that the attack was planned with the intent to kill Pandey and identified two Trinamool Congress leaders, Tarun Sau and MLA Somnath Shyam, as being behind the assault. Singh also mentioned that the miscreants involved were allegedly brought in from Kakinara. The injured driver has been admitted to Bhatpara State General Hospital, with one person reported to be in serious condition.
The BJP has shared a video clip on social media, purportedly showing the moment when the bullet was fired. Suvendu Adhikari, another BJP leader, accused TMC goons of attacking Pandey’s vehicle and claimed that the incident highlights the aggressive tactics used by the TMC and police against BJP members. Adhikari also criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the TMC for allegedly attempting to suppress the BJP’s activities during the bandh.
The bandh was part of the BJP’s protest against the Trinamool government, triggered by the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The BJP had called for a 6am to 6pm bandh following violent clashes between police and protesters. The protests, which included the use of tear gas, water cannons, and lathicharge by security forces, aimed to draw attention to the case and demand justice.
The incident has intensified the ongoing political clash between the BJP and TMC, with both parties trading accusations and engaging in public demonstrations. The national outrage over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case continues to fuel protests and political turmoil across the state.
Sources By Agencies