Notwithstanding the accusations by Trinamool Congress that the Left Front government has unleashed "state sponsored" terrorism in Bengal, the ruling CPI(M) today launched a counter-offensive blaming the TC's Union ministers of "giving leadership" to the violence. "The violent acts were being carried out under the leadership of Union ministers, MPs and leaders of Trinamool
Congress," the state CPI(M) said in a statement here tonight.

The Left party accused anti-social elements backed by TC and Congress of gunning down CPI(M) Burdwan district committee member Falguni Mukherjee yesterday.

Raising the issue of attacks on Left Front leaders and activists in different parts of the state, it said, "Since the
run up to the polls, 48 people belonging to our party and two others of Forward Bloc were killed in violence in West and East Midnapur and other districts."

"In many areas, a large number of CPI(M) and other Left Front workers and leaders have been driven out of their homes. Our party offices were also being attacked one after another", the party said.

"The Trinamool Congress, Maoist and other forces were organising violence in a Fascist manner," it claimed.

The statement also alleged that a section of media was giving "direct or indirect" encouragement to such acts.