KOLKATA: A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader was roughed up and his car was burnt by a mob in West Bengals East Midnapore district, officials said on Friday.

Niranjan Sihi, former East Midnapore district council chairman, was beaten up on Thursday night at Jiada under Panskura police station.

"We had to fire two rounds in the air to control the mob," said Inspector General (Law and Order) of West Bengal police Raj Kanojia.

A police official said the mob got enraged after Sihis driver and security guard beat up the driver of a van over the right of way at Jiada. The mob then dragged Sihi out and set his vehicle afire.

The injured Sihi, his driver and security guard were rushed to a hospital. The van driver has also been hospitalised.

The states ruling CPI-M alleged that the opposition Trinamool Congress had a hand in the incident to settle political scores.

Source : DNA