Two senior leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) including a former MLA, were killed when a group of armed people attacked a procession taken out by the party in the Dewandighi area of Bardhaman in south Bengal to rally support for the nation-wide strike called by several trade unions on February 28 as well as in protest against the unabated violence ‘being perpetrated by the Trinamool Congress in the region.'
The assailants, carrying iron rods, stakes and bricks assaulted and battered to death Pradip Tah, a former MLA of the Bardhaman Uttar constituency and Kamal Gayen — both district committee members of the CPI(M). The condition of another local leader of the party who is hospitalised is serious.
While the CPI(M) leadership said that those responsible for the attack were supporters of the Trinamool Congress, the leadership of the latter was divided on the matter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Asked by journalists for her comments on the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in New Delhi: “It is their [CPI-(M)] internal clash.” Her colleagues here, however, said the violence occurred when local people resisted an attempt by armed CPI(M) workers to establish their party's political control over the area.
Four persons, stated to be supporters of the Trinamool Congress, have been arrested in connection with the incident.