Tension persists as pol party supporters target opposition leaders

East Midnapore, May 07 (UNI) Tension persists throughout the district as police rush to rescue political party leaders and candidates being targeted by opposition party activists today.

SP S S Panda said that there had been isolated violence centering several blockades and counter blockades throughout the district in the wake of Panchayat poll campaigns by CPI (M) and Trinamool Congress candidates.

Trouble erupted this morning when AITC MLA and BUPC leader Subhendu Adhikary's vehicle was attacked and vandalised by CPI(M) party activists near Haludbari, when he was returning from a poll campaign from Khejuri's Kalagachiya area.

The road was blocked for quite some time, until the police rushed to the spot to rescue him and escorted his vehicle out of the area.

AITC MLA and BUPC Convenor Sisir Adhikary said that to counter the opposition party's actions, they staged a demonstration in front of Lakshman Seth's vehicle late in the afternoon by stopping him on his way back from campaigning at Mangolamaro area under Potashpur police station.

His vehicle was stopped for 40 minutes near Bajkul area.

SP said that there was tension in the district.

Sisir Adhikary further said, ''We will not give up our agitation until all our supporters who have been rendered homeless by the CPI(M) activists found safe path back to their villages.

Meanwhile, AITC supremo Mamata Banerjee will be holding a poll campaign in East Midnapore's Balichak area and will leave for Nandigram tomorrow, where she will be there for the next three days to boost the confidence of the Trinamool candidates.

Meanehile, the SP said that there has been isolated incidents of violence in parts of the district. Several houses of CPI(M) supporters were vandalised in Uttaramgechiya in Nandigram, whereas several houses of Trinamool party supporters were vandalised in Sonachura. Meanwhile, a Trinamool supporter was arrested in Kendumari for producing hands bombs.

Police also said that the Eastern Frontier Rifles were staging flag marches throughout the distrtct in view of the upcominf panchayat polls slated for May 11.

UNI XC LL AB 1806