BJP worker beaten to death in Bengal
The BJP issued a 12-hour bandh call in Arambag for Wednesday, claiming their party worker Sheikh Amir Ali Khan had been killed by Trinamool Congress supporters. Trinamool claimed BJP was giving a “political twist” to a rivarly between two local groups.
Four persons have been arrested, police said. Those arrested include two named in the FIR, Chhobi Bibi and Tagari Bibi, for allegedly instigating the groups.
According to residents, trouble first broke out when Amir along with a friend got into an altercation with a group of youths on Saturday in Kalipur. Later, they reportedly went to the house of a Trinamool supporter, Pintu Ali, and ransacked it. Pintu was allegedly beaten up in Amir’s presence.
Subsequently, Amir and two of his friends were challenged by a group of locals while having tea at a Kalipur shop. Bamboo poles and swords were allegedly wielded by both groups as the situation turned ugly. Outnumbered, Amir and his friends were beaten up and left bleeding on the road. They were admitted to the Arambagh subdivisional hospital in a serious condition. Amir died while being transferred to a hospital in Kolkata.
Once news of the death reached Arambag, BJP workers from nearby villages trooped into Amir’s locality and blocked the Kolkata-Arambag Road around 12.30pm. Nervous residents of Arambag town stayed indoors through the day.
“With Amir, 86 BJP workers have been killed in political violence in Bengal,” state BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said. “State BJP leaders will reach Arambag and remain there during his last rites. Since people will be observing Bhai Phonta on Monday and Tuesday, we have given a bandh call on Wednesday,” he added
Biman Ghosh, BJP’s organisational president in Arambag, said: “Amir was a popular ‘karyakarta’ in Kalipur and was president of booth 105. He played a key role in bringing supporters from the minority community before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.”
Trinamool leader Rajesh Chowdhury, however, alleged BJP workers were attacking his party’s supporters without provocation. “They have been beating up our party workers since Saturday night and are trying to gain sympathy after an unfortunate death,” he said.
Trinamool’s Hooghly district president Dilip Yadav, who reached Arambag town on Sunday afternoon, said: “The death is a fallout of rivalry between two local groups. BJP is trying to give it a political twist. They have tried to do so before too, and are instigating people during the festive season now.”
Residents claimed political clashes in the area started after Trinamool’s victory margin in Arambag constituency suffered a blowin the Lok Sabha polls.
Hooghly police superintendent Tathagata Basu said: “We have already arrested two persons and investigation is continuing. The situation is under control.”
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References
- ^ Hooghly district (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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