Kolkata, 20 April (H.S.):

Tension gripped Gosaba in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district ahead of the Assembly elections after a Trinamool Congress worker was shot and injured late on Sunday night.

The injured party worker was first admitted to Canning Sub-Divisional Hospital and later shifted to Chittaranjan National Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata for advanced treatment.

The victim has been identified as Dibyendu Gayen. According to local sources, he was returning home on a motorcycle after attending a party meeting when unidentified miscreants allegedly opened fire on him in the Bhupendrapur area under Shambhunagar Gram Panchayat at around 11 p.m.

One bullet reportedly struck his right thigh, causing him to collapse on the road. Hearing the gunshots, local residents rushed to the spot, rescued him, and took him to hospital.

Trinamool Congress leader Raja Gazi confirmed the incident and said one of the party’s workers had been shot. He alleged the involvement of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the attack. A formal complaint has been lodged with the local police station by the Trinamool Congress.

Police have started an investigation into the incident. The episode has further heightened political tension in the poll-bound region.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh