The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress party in West Bengal was responsible for the murder of a man the saffron party has claimed to be its nominee in the panchayat elections, The Indian Express reported. Police said Ajit Murmu was killed outside the office of the block development officer in Bankura’s Ranibandh.
West Bengal Police are yet to confirm the victim’s political affiliations or his attackers’ identity.
BJP leader Abhijit Mondal said Trinamool Congress workers attacked 35-year-old Murmu with a knife outside the block development officer’s office, where he had gone to file his nomination papers. Mondal also alleged that the Trinamool Congress workers had hurled a bomb at the victim.
Bankura Superintendent of Police Sukhendu Hira said the victim died at the district hospital. “A person named Ajit Murmu has died today,” Hira told the newspaper. “He left his house around 10 am and was injured in violence near the BDO office.”
The victim’s family has lodged a complaint with the Ranibandh Police but a case is yet to be registered, The Indian Express reported.
The BJP and other Opposition parties in the state have accused the Mamata Banerjee-led administration of targeting their candidates. BJP workers alleged that Trinamool Congress-backed criminals had fired guns and hurled bombs in an area close to the North Dinajpur block development officer’s office.
“It was barely 100 metres from the block development officer’s office, yet no policemen were seen,” BJP worker Biswajit Lahiri said. The police apprehended three people for their alleged role in the incident.
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