During an alleged altercation between two sections of the ruling party on Wednesday in West Midnapore’s Keshpur, a Trinamul worker’s right hand was injured by crude bombs.
Sheikh Rafiqul Ali, 35, was taken by ambulance to the Midnapore Medical College and Keshpur Health Center but lost at least three fingers on his right hand.
According to sources, the incident took place in Charka village, under Keshpur police station, just before a Trinamul gathering with an eye toward next year’s panchayat elections.
“Trinamul’s rival factions clashed over who should lead the rally. Both sides lobbed bombs,” said an eyewitness.
Rafiqul was engaged in the fight for one faction when a bomb exploded near him.
“As splinters hit his right hand, he lost three fingers,” said a Trinamul worker.
Trinamul district leadership appeared to blame the Opposition. Keshpur MLA and minister of state for panchayat and rural development, Shiuli Saha, said: “There was a Trinamul rally at Keshpur Bazar on Wednesday at 1pm. Earlier, the BJP and the CPM had resorted to bomb attacks…. One of our workers was seriously injured.”