The murder of a CPI(M) polling agent in Murshidabad district on Thursday kicked off a blame game between the CPI(M) and the TMC, with the Left party alleging that TMC unleashed a “reign of terror,” while the EC acted as a “mute spectator”.
TMC denied the allegations and said the killing was the result of a fallout between the CPI(M) and the Congress.
35-year-old Tahidul Islam was killed on Thursday and his body was found lying outside a polling booth at Shibapara area under the Domkal Assembly seat in Murshidabad district, where third phase polling is on.
Read | West Bengal polls: 40% voting in 4 hrs; one killed in violence
An earlier report said Tahidul Islam was a CPI(M) supporter.
CPI(M) candidate and former minister Anisur Rahman said Tahidur Islam was killed when bombs were hurled at the polling booth.
A furious CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra lashed out at the TMC.
“The blood of martyr Tahidul Islam will not go in vain. We will continue to protect the booths with the last drop of our blood. People will oust TMC. The gruesome murder of CPI(M) polling agent Tahidul Islam in the polling premises of Domkal by TMC points out to the reign of terror in Bengal,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“The blood of martyr Tahidul Islam will not go in vain. We will continue to protect the booths with the last drop of our blood. People will oust TMC. The gruesome murder of CPI(M) polling agent Tahidul Islam in the polling premises of Domkal by TMC points out to the reign of terror in Bengal,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said people would give a befitting reply to the TMC for its “terror tactics”.
“The TMC has unleashed a reign of terror. People of Murshidabad will give a befitting reply to TMC terror tactics,” Chowdhury told PTI.
Read | One lakh security personnel deployed for third phase of WB polls
TMC denied the allegations.
“Sad news of a death in Domkal. It is a result of CPI(M)-Congress infighting,” TMC leader and candidate Shoumik Hossain told PTI.
Murshidabad Superintendent of police C Sudhakar, however, said the murder was not related to the polls.
Tahidur was knifed somewhere else and his body was dumped near the booth, the SP said.
The EC is understood to have sought report on Tahidul Islam’s killing.
Assembly elections 2016: Full Coverage