In the wake of reported post-election violence across West Bengal, two members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were killed in New Town, North 24 Parganas, and Udaynarayanpur, Howrah. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has also claimed that two of its party members lost their lives in Beleghata, Kolkata, and Nanoor, Birbhum.
A TMC worker, identified as Abir Sheikh, was found deceased in Nanoor, with party affiliates alleging that he was murdered by BJP members. In a different incident, the BJP has accused miscreants linked to the TMC of killing one of their own workers while he celebrated the party’s electoral victory in Udaynarayanpur on Tuesday.
Family members of the deceased TMC worker, Abir Sheikh, claimed he was assaulted by individuals affiliated with the BJP as he returned home. Following the report, a significant police presence was dispatched to the area to secure the site.
Similarly, the family of BJP worker Yadav Bor Jadhav Bor, aged 45, alleged that he was abducted and assaulted with sharp objects by a group while returning home from victory celebrations on Monday. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been arrested in relation to this incident.
In two additional incidents, a TMC worker named Biswajit Pattanaik, aged 44, was killed, while BJP worker Madhu Mondal was reportedly murdered by TMC members following a dispute during a BJP victory procession in the Bhalliguri area, according to police reports.
Bidhan Majhi, the recently elected TMC MLA from Nanoor, stated that Sheikh was a dedicated party member who was killed by BJP affiliates in the region. Conversely, BJP leader Shyamapada Mondal asserted that none of their party members were involved in the incident and urged for a thorough investigation by the police.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh publicly shared a video purportedly showing the deceased, labeling the circumstances as “horrifying” and “chilling.” The TMC also expressed their outrage on social media, condemning the murder of their party worker in Birbhum and referencing it as part of a broader agenda of violence initiated by the BJP.
As tensions escalated throughout the state, the TMC reported multiple assaults on its offices and workers after their loss in the Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the BJP has called for calm and denied any wrongdoing.
According to TMC sources, party offices in various locations, including Tollygunge, Kasba, Baruipur, Kamarhati, and Baranagar, as well as districts such as Howrah and Berhampore, were vandalized. In Beleghata, a local TMC office was attacked, and block president Pabitra Biswas was reportedly assaulted, while the office of councillor Sushanta Ghosh suffered damage. Additionally, the election office of former minister Aroop Biswas in the Bijoygarh-Netajinagar area was ransacked, with reports of individuals destroying campaign materials.
A former TMC councillor alleged he was attacked by miscreants in Howrah district on Tuesday evening. Shyamal Mitra, the former councillor of Ward No. 26 and a local TMC leader, received medical attention following the incident. Police have initiated an investigation and are prepared to take necessary actions based on their findings.
The TMC also accused BJP supporters of using heavy machinery to vandalize a party office in Hogg market. Furthermore, reports have emerged of TMC offices being set ablaze in Jamuria and Siliguri. The party claimed that its candidate for Udaynarayanpur, Samir Panja, was assaulted, and that candidates Raj Chakraborty and Trinankur Bhattacharya faced physical attacks while leaving counting centers, necessitating protection from Central Armed Police Forces. Maniktala candidate Shreya Pande also reported that her election agent was assaulted.
The TMC took to social media to accuse the BJP of inciting violence, asserting that the BJP revealed its true nature upon assuming power. They expressed concern over the vandalism at their party offices and called for accountability.
In response, the BJP dismissed the accusations, with leader Rahul Sinha suggesting that internal conflicts within the TMC may be responsible for the incidents. He emphasized that the current situation should not be compared to the violence witnessed during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, noting that police and central forces are responding swiftly.
The BJP has instructed its members to avoid provocations, refrain from celebrating near TMC offices, and promote peace. They highlighted the significance of the recent electoral results, framing it as a victory for development and progress in West Bengal, and urged all political entities to refrain from violence and work collaboratively towards a peaceful future.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested reports from local authorities and has warned of stringent action against those responsible for the violence. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal had previously cautioned officials regarding security measures.
Kolkata police have also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading misinformation, noting that misleading posts are circulating on social media, falsely linking unrelated videos and images to the electoral aftermath in Kolkata. The police are actively monitoring this content and are prepared to take legal action against those disseminating misinformation.
