A local Trinamool Congress leader was shot by unidentified assailants in West Bengal's Chaltaberia Gram Panchayat area on Thursday.
The 38-year-old leader, identified as Rajjak Khan, was rushed to the hospital following the firing and was declared dead there.
"Around 9.45 pm yesterday, one Rajjak Khan of Chak Maricha village, Chaltaberia Gram Panchayat was attacked by a few persons near Siristala under Uttar Kashipore PS while returning home," news agency ANI quoted the Kolkata Police as saying.
The incident took place in Bhangar on Thursday night when Rajjak Khan, a close associate of TMC’s Canning Purba MLA Saokat Molla, was shot by unidentified gunmen, a senior police official said.
“An initial probe revealed that three bullets hit the deceased. The assailants also stabbed him multiple times to ensure his death,” the senior officer from Kashipur Police Station told news agency PTI.
He added that a police team has been deployed in the area and the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.
TMC accuses ISF of role in leader’s murder
MLA Molla has accused the Indian Secular Front (ISF) of being behind the murder of a local TMC leader.
{{/usCountry}}MLA Molla has accused the Indian Secular Front (ISF) of being behind the murder of a local TMC leader.
{{/usCountry}}“Rajjak was returning home after attending two party meetings. He was shot at and then stabbed multiple times. Those who are losing ground in Bhangar are behind this murder. Criminals, who had been given shelter by the ISF, killed Khan. They are losing political relevance every day, and that is why they have resorted to such criminal activities,” the TMC legislator alleged.
However, ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique denied the charge, calling the incident a result of the TMC’s internal rivalry.
Bhangar has frequently been a hotspot for political violence between TMC and ISF supporters vying for influence in the region.
In a similar development last week, a panchayat samiti leader of the TMC was shot at in the Cooch Behar district. In that case, Dipankar Roy, is the son of BJP MLA Sukumar Roy, was identified as an accused, and was arrested.
(With PTI inputs)