"Pre-planned": BJP leader over attack on BJP MLA and MP in WB

Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], October 12 (ANI): BJP leader Anirban Ganguly has claimed that the alleged assault on the BJP MP Khagen Murmu and the BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh at Bamandanga in Jalpaiguri's Nagrakata earlier in the week was very "pre-planned" and called for a deeper investigation into the incident.
The attack had taken place during a flood tour undertaken by the BJP leaders.
"...It is very evident from what has happened that it was a very pre-planned attempt to attack our public representatives. There was even a plan to attack Samik Bhattacharya... The intention was to mob lynch and say that they faced a mob, and the mob expressed their anger, which is completely untrue," Ganguly told ANI after meeting BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh and visiting BJP MP Khagen Murmu in the hospital after the alleged attack on them.

The BJP leader also accused the police of protecting the people involved in the attack and echoed the demand of his colleague and State President Samik Bhattacharya for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation.
"There needs to be a deeper investigation into this because we are in a situation that is absolutely abnormal. In fact, our state president, Samik Bhattacharya, has demanded an NIA investigation, and I completely support that... The police should have been much more proactive. The police know who these people are. But are those whom they are arresting the right kind of people? The question remains. And therefore, we demand that there should be an NIA inquiry into this," the BJP leader added.
The attack happened when both leaders were visiting the North Bengal region to oversee relief and rescue operations amid a landslide and flood situation. This has sparked a political row in the State, with the BJP taking aim at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Meanwhile, A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Calcutta High Court vacation Bench regarding the assault of BJP MP Khagen Murmu in Nagrakata.
The Calcutta High Court vacation bench allowed the matter to be filed, and the matter will be heard on October 14. (ANI)