South 24 Paragnas, 11 March (H.S.): A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was shot at by unidentified assailants in West Bengal’s Gangasagar area of South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday morning, the police said.

The incident took place near Sridham bus stand under Gangasagar Coastal police station area, they said.

According to police sources, the injured leader has been identified as Trilokesh Dhali. Two assailants allegedly arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at him around 8 am before fleeing the spot.

Dhali sustained a bullet injury in his chest and collapsed on the road, bleeding profusely. Local residents rushed him to Sagar Rural Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

The identity of the attackers and the motive behind the attack are yet to be ascertained, police said, adding that a search has been launched to trace those involved.

Family members of the injured leader alleged that miscreants linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress were behind the attack. However, there was no immediate reaction from the party.

Dhali’s son, Tridip Dhali, claimed that his father was likely to contest the upcoming assembly elections as a BJP candidate and alleged that the attack might be linked to political rivalry.

The police said all angles are being examined as part of the investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey