A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was shot dead at Nimta in West Bengal’s North 24 Paraganas district late on Tuesday evening. A video footage from the close circuit television cameras installed near his house shows him slumping on the road as a motorcycle speeds away. Nirmal Kundu was declared brought dead in hospital.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the murder. A police officer in the Barrackpore Municipality said one of the arrested, Suman Kundu, was a BJP supporter.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Nimta on Thursday and meet the family members of the deceased.
The killing triggered fresh war of words between the TMC and the BJP.
Earlier in the day, while participating in Id-ul-Fitr celebration, Ms. Banerjee said “whoever messes with us will be decimated [Jo humse takraega wo choor choor ho jaega]. This is our slogan.”
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh , refuted the allegation of a BJP supporter being involved in the murder. “Whenever there is any political murder, the Trinamool Congress blames the BJP. The TMC has tried to link my even my name in the murder of a person in Kharagpur,” he said. He alleged that infighting in the TMC and “deteriorating law and order” situation in the State resulted in the murders.
After the results of the Lok Sabha polls, political murders have continued unabated in the State and supporters of both the parties have killed.
A number of local leaders of different political parties and Anju Ghosh, actor of well-known Bengali film Beder Meye Josna (1989), joined the BJP in the day. Mr Ghosh said the party would emphasise on “joining” of leaders from different political parties in June.
