The FIR was lodged at the Tamluk Police station under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 307 (attempt to murder) among others against Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Das by some of the teaching and non-teaching staff, who lost their jobs following a Calcutta High Court order.

The incident happened on Saturday when BJP leader Abhijit Gangopadhyay along with party colleague Suvendu Adhikari led a rally before filing his nomination papers for the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat. During the rally, some BJP supporters allegedly attacked the protest site of the primary teachers who have lost their jobs. The former teachers also alleged some of them were beaten up by BJP supporters.

Maidul Islam, President, West Bengal Trinamool Primary Teachers Association, said, “To protest against them, unemployed teachers have been on hunger strike since April 29 in Suvendu Adhikari’s hometown and the centre from which Abhijit Gangopadhyay will contest. Jobless people from different parts of the state have joined this movement. On Saturday, there was a planned attack on us from the procession of Abhijit Gangopadhyay. I was also there during the attack.”

After the incident, teachers filed a complaint against Abhijit Gangopadhyay and BJYM’s Prashanta Das. The police then lodged an FIR against the BJP candidate and Das on charges of attempt to murder, those under sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act as well as molestation and other allegations.

However, Gangopadhyay remained unfazed. “It is a false case. We are not worried. Those who filed the case already have many cases against them,” said Gangopadhyay.