Violence was reported from North Dinajpur on Thursday, a day after the Raiganj Assembly bypoll was held, as some Trinamul Congress supporters allegedly assaulted a Congress worker and his family members during an altercation.

The TMC has denied the charge. Police have arrested the Congress worker for allegedly perpetrating the violence.

Sources said Mohammad Nabab, a Congress worker, was posted in a booth by the party to work as a polling agent in Maharajpur, a locality under Raiganj police station. Mohit Sengupta, the left-backed Congress candidate, is contesting in the seat.

Alo Khatun, his wife, alleged that her husband intercepted a false voter at the booth. Later, while Nabab was returning home, some TMC supporters attacked and beat him up. “He somehow fled the spot. This morning, my husband was sitting at a local tea stall. He spotted Ranjit Hossain, a TMC worker and asked him why they attacked him yesterday. An altercation ensued and he beat my husband again,” said Khatun.

As the news spread, Khatun and Nabab’s father rushed to save him. “We were also assaulted,” she added.

Soon after, a police team reached the spot. The police arrested Nabab and took him to the police station.

Sanjoy Kumar Dey, a TMC leader of Maharajpur, denied the charges. “Nabab attacked Ranjit Hossain without
any provocation. The police should take steps against him,” said Dey.

Later in the day, Left and Congress leaders of the district assembled at Ghori More, a prominent crossing of the town and raised a blockade.

“TMC has resorted to rigging during the elections. We want the election commission to conduct a re-poll in 64 booths of the Assembly constituency,” said a Congress leader.

Sengupta, the Congress candidate, has already filed a complaint with the district election officer and the election observer seeking repolling in 47 booths, the party leader said.

Due to the blockade, traffic movement came to a standstill in the area. Police officers reached the spot and could persuade the demonstrators to disperse. After an hour, they left the place.

The BJP, sources said, has also sought re-poll in 70 booths.

The administration, however, has not received any such instruction from the election commission.

“We have not received any instruction from the ECI to conduct re-polling in any booth of the Assembly seat,” said Kingshuk Maiti, the SDO of Raiganj.