According to authorities, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker was allegedly beaten to death by members of a rival group in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district early on Sunday.
The victim was identified as Sajeev Das, also known as Patla, who the police described as a history-sheeter with multiple offences against him.
The murder occurred in Paschimpara, Arjunpur, Baguiati. Residents reported it was the result of a fight between two TMC groups on Saturday night about one group shutting off electricity in another’s territory. According to them, the fight became so heated that both groups started hurling bricks at one other.
Officials from the local Baguiati police station were notified about 1.30 a.m. and responded to the area to handle the situation. However, once the cops had departed, the two groups apparently resumed fighting.
“Sanjeev Das was hit in the head with a brick and collapsed on the road. A gang of males encircled him and continued to abuse him. He was allegedly slapped, kicked, and assaulted. His relatives reported he was assaulted with a stick,” according to an official.
Das was brought to R G Kar Hospital by his relatives, but he died from his injuries later, according to the police.
After Das died, his family and relatives flocked to the streets, claiming that the murder was planned. They stopped the road and demanded that the culprits be detained immediately. The police came on the area, but the residents joined the demonstration, causing havoc. A Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been dispatched to keep the peace.
Tensions remained high in the neighbourhood on Sunday morning. When local councilman Devraj Chakraborty arrived on the scene, he was met by outraged protesters. He stated, “When I first learned of the incident on Saturday night, I immediately took action. I last spoke with them around 1:30 a.m. However, around 3.30 a.m., they contacted me to report a new disturbance, but I missed the call. I arrived in the region early in the day. Das was extremely near to me. I’ve known his family for 10-11 years. “All of those involved in the murder will face punishment.”
According to authorities, a murder case has been filed, and a hunt is ongoing to locate all of the accused.
Meanwhile, Saraswati Sarkar, the Kasba mandal president of the BJP’s South Kolkata organisational district, was reportedly beaten and struck in the head by TMC miscreants on Saturday night. According to reports, the brawl took place while wall painting was in the neighbourhood ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
