Babul Supriyo has alleged that the police did nothing to stop the clashes.
Highlights
- Babul Supriyo alleged the police did nothing to stop the clashes
- Mr Supriyo is a BJP parliamentarian from Asansol
- Mr Supriyo has alleged that the police "is helping cow smugglers"
Union minister Babul Supriyo was hit on the chest with a large stone today in West Bengal's Asansol, thrown, allegedly by supporters of Trinamool leader and law minister Moloy Ghatak.
Mr Supriyo, who is the BJP parliamentarian from Asansol, went to the BNR More area where he was hit after a senior local party leader Subrata Mishra was beaten up allegedly by Trinamool workers as members of the two parties clashed.
When Mr Supriyo drove up, a mob attacked his convoy. A stone hit him on the chest as he stepped out of the car.
Mr Supriyo alleged that the police did nothing to stop the clashes. "The police should be controlling the mob. Instead they are harassing me and failing to ensure my security. Stones have been hurled at me, my car. The BJP was doing a peaceful protest. The Trinamool attacked us," he said.
The mob also vandalised a black vehicle, smashing its windscreen with stones and even helmets, breaking off parts and rocking the vehicle. No one was in the car at the time.
On Tuesday, Babul Supriyo was on his way to inaugurate a shooting event when he spotted some people herding cattle. The minister suspected they were smuggling cows and stopped his convoy to talk to them. The minister has alleged that they were cow smugglers and had five of them handed over to the police. He also alleged that the police "is helping cow smugglers."
As a crowd gathered, Mr Supriyo asked where the cows were being taken. In the melee, someone said the police knew about the racket and the money from smuggling allegedly went into the pocket of Moloy Ghatak who represents the Asansol assembly constituency.
Mr Supriyo had announced Mr Ghatak's house would be gheraoed today.
Since morning, a large number of Trinamool workers gathered outside Mr Ghatak's house, as did a large police force. Around 2 pm, a lone BJP leader, Subrata Mishra, was passing by when Trinamool workers allegedly pounced on him and beat him up. BJP workers rushed to the area and a free for all followed. Mr Mishra was rescued by the police after being beaten up. Word of the situation reached Mr Supriyo who reached the spot at around 3:30 pm.
Asansol Trinamool chief D Shivdasn said, "If someone threatens to attack our minister's house, Trinamool workers can't be expected to sit back and do nothing."
Asansol's mayor Jitendar Tewari, however, claimed Trinamool was not involved in the incident and a BJP faction opposed to Mr Supriyo had hurled the stones.
A senior Trinamool leader was sent to the spot and he brought Mr Supriyo out of the area in his vehicle.
The situation is now tense but calm.
The BJP had planned a protest at the West Bengal law minister's residence today and Trinamool workers arrived to thwart that plan when the clashes happened.
Babul Supriyo, 46, a popular playback singer turned politician and the minister of state for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises at the Centre, tweeted a photo of his injury on Wednesday evening.