Kaliachak CPM leader shot at

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 18: Unidentified criminals shot at and injured Mr Abdur Rauf, a senior CPI-M leader of the district and Malda Zilla parishad member in front of Dariapur Madrasa in Malda's Kaliachak police station area today. According to the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, the miscreants fired at Mr Rauf, who is also a schoolteacher as he came out of his school during recess. Mr Rauf was injured in the hand and legs by splinters. The condition of Mr Rauf is stated to be out of danger. Local CPI-M workers later staged a roadblock on NH-34 near Kaliyaganj to protest against the attack on Mr Rauf. A protest rally was also organised by the party at the Kaliachak bus stand. The Malda district secretary of CPI-M, Mr Jiban Moitra, has accused the Congress leaders of masterminding the attack. "It was a pre-planned attack on Mr Rauf. The miscreants, backed by the Congress leaders, had tried to kill him," Mr Moitra alleged. Mr Moitra held the district administration responsible for political unrest here. "The police should act more effectively to maintain law and order situation in the district. It was a pity that two unidentified persons fired at Mr Rauf in front of the Madrasa and managed to escape," Mr Moitra said. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, on his part, said: "After the change of guard at Naoda Jadupur gram panchayat, political clashes between the Congress and the CPI-M activists have increased. We are trying to bring the situation under control." Political rivalry between the two parties had also claimed the life of Mr Abdur Rauf's brother recently. The CPI-M was ousted from power at Naoda Jadupur gram panchayat by the Congress recently.