Sristidhar Mahato, Trinamool member of Balarampur Panchayat Samiti, said the CPM attacked the building when the Central-state joint security forces were carrying out search operations on the Bengal-Jharkhand border.

“It (CPM) gave the impression as if Maoists have set fire to the panchayat office,” said Mahato.

Trinamool district president of Purulia, Santiram Mahato, said the CPM plans to oust the Trinamool from the panchayats by terrorising them in rural areas in the name of Maoists.

The pradhan of Bara-Urma village panchayat, a Trinamool member, had lodged a complaint with Balarampur police station, alleging that a group of “miscreants” had set the panchayat building afire, said a police officer, adding that the assailants had left behind posters of the Peoples Committee.Nakul Mahato, CPM district committee secretary of Purulia, however denied the allegations.

“It is not the practice of the CPM to hire miscreants to organise attacks on panchayat offices or other political parties, Mahato said.

Balarampur, located on the Jharkhand border, used to be a strong hold of the CPM until 2008 when the party lost the Bara-Urma village panchayat to the Trinamool Congress.

Purulia Superintendent of Police Rajesh Yadav said that the police have started investigations after a complaint was lodged in the matter.