I was targeted during poll campaign, says Union Minister

Even as the State government denied his accusations, senior State Congress leader and Union Minister of State for Health Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury claimed on Tuesday that he was targeted and heard gunshots and bomb explosions during an election campaign in Malda district.

“I was travelling in a vehicle when gun shots and bomb explosions were heard,” Mr. Choudhury told journalists, adding that he would not succumb to such threats and continue with his campaign.

“The convoy of Mr. Choudhury was not attacked. Some explosions were heard far away from his convoy,” Inspector General (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma told journalists at the State Secretariat.

The incident occurred when Mr. Choudhury was campaigning at Jadupur village under Kaliachak police station of the district, he added.

The State Congress unit, however, alleged that the Trinamool was responsible for the attack and it was an attempt to create fear among the voters and party workers in Malda, one of the strongholds of the Trinamool.

State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya described it as a conspiracy to prevent the Congress from campaigning.

Congress leaders and Union Ministers from the State Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Deepa Dasmunsi also described the attack as an attempt of the Trinamool to threaten the Congress workers.

“If a Central Minister is not safe then how can the security of the people be ensured. The incident speaks volumes of the law and order situation in the State,” Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra said.

“There has been no attack on Mr. Choudhury. No bullets were fired nor was a bomb thrown at him,” Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury, State Tourism Minister said.