SILIGURI: Siliguri Mayor and senior CPI-M leader Ashok Bhattacharya has alleged that he was attacked today by Trinamool Congress workers, a charge denied by the ruling party in the state.
Bhattacharya told newsmen at the CPI-M office at Anil Biswas Bhawan here that he was attacked upon instigation by North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb at Tinbatti area when he had gone there to attend a programme of Siliguri Municipal Corporation's Slum Development Samity.
He claimed that TMC workers and supporters waved black flags at him and attacked his car after he had reached the spot. He was also threatened with sticks, Bhattacharya said and further alleged that the attack was in connivance with the police.
The Mayor, however, was not injured nor any member of his party.
He, meanwhile, alleged that no policemen were present during a CPI-M programme at Atrokhai in Siliguri on August 15 and Trinamool Congress workers had attacked the event.
"Today, too, TMC workers took advantage of police's absence," he charged.
TMC, on the other hand, alleged that local Left Front leaders had attacked its workers when they waved black flags at Bhattacharya at the Slum Development Samity programme and injured a number of them.
Tension prevailed at Tinbatti for some time but was defused after police intervened.