The bomb attack on a police officer in Birbhum district of West Bengal has sparked off a verbal duel between the Trinamool Congress and its rivals BJP and Congress. Prosenjit Dutta, the OC of Parui police station, was injured on Friday when bombs were thrown at his team of policemen who went to Chakmondola village to inquire into a tip-off about bombs being manufactured there.

BJP state president Rahul Sinha alleged that the TMC and foreign extremists might have been involved in the attack and demanded an immediate inquiry. "Where there is no security for the police or security personnel, it is now clear how safe the common people in the state are," Sinha said. Joining the issue, TMC Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal after accusing the BJP of involvement in the incident, said, "BJP supporters in the village, where the attack on the police officer took place, are directly involved. The BJP is trying to tarnish the image of the ruling party." State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury on the other hand accused the TMC of being hand in glove with anti-socials who unleashed a reign of terror in the state.

"The prevailing situation has clearly demonstrated the poor state of the law and order situation in West Bengal which has failed to ensure safety for common people," Chowdhury said. The district police has, meanwhile, described the incident as a planned attack on them.