The death of a college student at Bamongachi in North 24 Parganas district here on Saturday turned into a political controversy with both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming that the student was associated with their party.
The victim’s family and locals alleged that the student, Sourav Chowdhury, was killed by miscreants for protesting against anti-social activities in the area.
The State unit of the BJP has called for a ‘bandh’ at Bamongachi and a party delegation led by State party president Rahul Sinha will meet the family members of the victim on Sunday.
Jyotipriya Mullick, Food Minister, said the TMC president of North 24 Parganas said that Mr. Chowdhury, a second-year student of Mrinalini Dutta College, was a supporter of the student wing of the party.
The student went missing on Friday evening and his body bearing multiple injuries was found on the railway tracks between Bamongachi and Duttapukur during the day. Locals and the acquaintance of the student alleged that he had to pay for his life for protesting illegal liquor dens and gambling rackets operating in the area.
Brother denies linkThe brother of the deceased said that he saw a group of people last night beating up and dragging his brother. “I informed my father then. We informed the local panchayat member also. But nobody came for his support,” he said, adding that his brother had no links with any party. Meanwhile, the student wing of the ruling party laid siege to Mrinalini Dutta College. The principal lodged a police complaint.
“We have filed a murder case and investigating the matter. I can’t say anything more now,” said North 24 Parganas Superintendent of Police Tanmay Roy Chowdhury.
The development comes on a day when social activists of the State were observing the second death anniversary of crusader Barun Biswas, who was allegedly killed two years ago at Sutia in North 24 Parganas district for protesting crime against women.
