In the Lalgarh-Goaltore belt of West Midnapore, a Maoist hotbed, supporters of the Trinamool Congress and CPM clashed on Thursday leaving one dead and several others injured.

The clashes began in the wee hours and continued through the day at Maheshpur village in Chandrakona, about 40 kilometers from Goaltore, where security forces are conducting anti-Naxal members. The two groups exchanged gunfire and lobbed crude bombs at each other. One Trinamool supporter, Sheikh Aftabuddin Bhangi, died after hit by gunshots.

“We have received information that one person has died in the clashes that took place in Chandrakona. A police contingent has been directed to reach there. We have detained some people,” said SP Manoj Verma. Two village youths — Sheikh Islam and Abu Salek — are reportedly missing.

The incident, sources said, is the fallout of the attempts made by the Trinamool to gain ground in the area, which was once a CPM bastion. Recently, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had called for launching a fresh agitation in Lalgarh and demanded immediate cessation of police operations. On July 28, a team led by two Trinamool ministers Mukul Roy and Sisir Adhikary will be visiting the area as part of the party’s attempt to garner support.

“Maheshpur village has been under our control for the past six to seven months. But armed cadres of the CPM attacked the village with bombs and guns. It is through terror that CPM is trying to gain their lost ground here and attack people who support us,” said district Trinamool president Mrigen Maity.

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