BJP infighting erupts in Bengal's Debra as MLA Subhasish Om alleges attack by party faction

A fresh instance of factional infighting within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surfaced in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district on Monday after Debra MLA Subhasish Om alleged that members of his own party had assaulted him. The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a dispute over alleged extortion at a local panchayat, triggered tension in the area and raised concerns over a possible confrontation between rival party factions.

The MLA was taken to Debra Super Speciality Hospital for treatment following the alleged assault. The incident took place on Monday evening, with a large police contingent subsequently deployed at the hospital to prevent further clashes.

Dispute over alleged extortion escalates

According to reports, the confrontation began after allegations of extortion at a local panchayat triggered a disagreement between two groups within the BJP. Supporters of Om reportedly objected to the alleged extortion, leading to an altercation in the panchayat area.

The dispute subsequently escalated, with supporters of the MLA and members of the rival faction allegedly getting into a physical confrontation. Om was not present at the location when the initial altercation broke out.

As tensions mounted, members of both groups approached the police station. Om also reached the police station after learning about the dispute. It was there that members of his own party allegedly assaulted him.

MLA alleges planned attack, blames party faction

Speaking from the hospital, Om alleged that the assault was deliberate and accused a section of his own party of orchestrating the attack. He maintained that he had intervened to defuse tensions between party workers and discourage them from filing cases against one another, as they belonged to the same organisation.

“I requested them not to file a case, as we operate under the same party flag. When I tried to intervene and stop them, I was also assaulted,” Om was quoted as saying.

He sustained head injuries and was admitted to Debra Super Speciality Hospital. Several other BJP workers were also reportedly injured in the clashes, with reports putting the total number of injured at seven.

District BJP chief questions circumstances surrounding injuries

BJP Ghatal organisational district president Tanmoy Das rushed to the hospital after receiving information about the incident. However, his remarks about the injuries and the circumstances surrounding them added another dimension to the party's internal dispute.

Das claimed that when he reached the hospital, everyone appeared to be doing fine. He alleged that he noticed some people getting bandages only after media personnel arrived at the hospital.

He, however, did not specify who these individuals were. Das also said internal disagreements should have been resolved through discussions within the party rather than being brought into the public domain.

He maintained that he was not fully aware of what had happened and would need to speak to the doctors to understand the extent of the injuries.

Police deployed as tension grips hospital

The incident and the arrival of rival BJP factions at Debra Super Speciality Hospital raised fears of further clashes in the hospital premises.

Debra Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) reached the spot after receiving information about the situation. A large police contingent was also deployed to maintain security and prevent any further escalation.

Police intervention helped bring the situation under control, and normalcy was subsequently restored in Debra and around the hospital.

According to reports, Om also approached the police over the alleged assault, with one account stating that he lodged a complaint against six people. The police are looking into the incident and the allegations surrounding the clash.