Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh's convoy came under attack in north Bengal.
Stones were hurled at the convoy of Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh today and protestors waved black flags during his visit to north Bengal. Mr Ghosh was unhurt but his vehicle and those of other BJP leaders in the convoy were damaged. Some motorcyclists in the convoy were injured.
"Trinamool miscreants and some local anti-socials are behind this attack," Mr Ghosh said, adding, "This is not the first time there has been such an attack."
The incident took place around 2 pm at Jaigaon in Alipurduar district where Mr Ghosh had gone for a public meeting. A huge police force was deployed along the road when Mr Ghosh headed back from Jaigaon to Siliguri.
In Kolkata, the BJP's youth wing leader, MP Saumitra Khan called for an hour long road blockade across Bengal at 4 pm. In front of the BJP headquarters in Kolkata, supporters blocked Central Avenue and set fire to tyres in protest against the attack on the state chief.
"120 BJP workers have been killed in the politics of violence in Bengal in last four to five years, five or six were killed in the Durga Pujas, one worker was killed yesterday at Kanthi. Even the Prime Minister has expressed concern," Mr Ghosh said.
The attack on the BJP leader's convoy comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an oblique reference to Bengal, where elections are due next year, warning that "the killing of BJP workers is unacceptable in a democracy" and the people would punish those responsible.
"Those unable to challenge us, they have adopted the path of murder of our workers. In some parts of the country they think that by killing BJP workers they will fulfill their ambitions... By playing with death you cannot get a mandate - see the writing on the wall," he said.
The Trinamool Congress has dismissed the allegations. Accusing PM Modi and Amit Shah of "raising the pitch" ahead of elections, Trinamool's Sougata Roy said, "The BJP narrative on political violence is wrong. Trinamool does not believe in politics of violence".
The BJP claims political violence even in case of death by suicide, Mr Roy said, adding, "Their policy is to throw mud and hope some of it will stick".
This is the second attack on the Bengal BJP chief in the last few months. In July, he claimed he was attacked by Trinamool supporters and his car vandalized in Kolkata when he had gone for a morning walk and a cup of tea.