BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s convoy attacked in Bengal's Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar: The convoy of Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari was allegedly attacked by TMC workers in Cooch Behar district during a protest programme.

The TMC, however, dubbed the charges "well-scripted drama".

Adhikari, who had travelled to the north Bengal district to lead a BJP demonstration outside the office of the Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police, faced sloganeering. He was shown black flags near the Khagrabari area.

According to BJP leaders, a mob, holding TMC party's flags and black flags, gathered at the Khagrabari crossing around 12.35 pm, when Adhikari’s convoy was passing through the area.

Protesters reportedly shouted “go back” slogans and hurled shoes at Adhikari's vehicle.

At least one car in his convoy, including a police escort vehicle, had its window panes shattered.

Adhikari had flown from Kolkata to Bagdogra earlier in the day and was on his way to the SP's office in Cooch Behar when the incident occurred.

BJP workers had planned a gherao of the Cooch Behar SP’s office to protest against recent attacks on party MLAs in the district.

The Leader of Opposition in the assembly was scheduled to meet the police superintendent during the visit.

The BJP blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress for the attack, claiming it was a “pre-planned attempt to intimidate the Leader of the Opposition”.

The TMC, however, claimed that no TMC workers were involved in the vandalism and the attack was a "result of the internal feud within the BJP".

Visuals from the site showed TMC party flags being used by protesters to hit the vehicles in the convoy, while shoes were seen being hurled from the crowd.

It is yet to be confirmed whether anyone was injured in the incident.

The district administration and the police are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

According to Trinamool Congress leaders in Cooch Behar, they observed a 'Bhasa andolan' (Language Movement) on Tuesday in different parts of the district.

The local Trinamool leadership had announced protest programmes in response to Adhikari’s planned march to the SP's office.

Sit-ins were held at 19 locations across Cooch Behar as part of this programme, the TMC's Cooch Behar unit said.

One of those locations was Khagrabari in Cooch Behar, where the protest surrounding Suvendu's convoy took place.