BJP worker ‘beaten’ to death in West Bengal’s Nadia; sparks political row

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was allegedly beaten to death in West Bengal’s Nadia district on Thursday night, sparking a political row between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress.

The incident occurred in Nabadwip, where 40-year-old Sanjay Bhowmik was assaulted and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. His family alleged that one of the accused is Tarak Das, a former driver of Nabadwip Trinamool MLA Pundarikaksha Saha. They claimed Mr. Bhowmik was attacked when he tried to intervene in a local fight.

“They had beaten up my son once before. The Trinamool workers used to drink in this neighbourhood club room and create a ruckus,” his mother told mediapersons. A relative demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe and capital punishment for the accused.

BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, shared photos linking another accused, Gadhadar Ray, with Trinamool MLA Mukut Mani Adhikari. “Nearly three hundred BJP workers have been killed in the State… Trinamool is attempting to establish a reign of terror,” Mr. Adhikari alleged.

Senior BJP leader Arjun Singh warned of retaliation, while Trinamool refuted the charges. “Any death is condemnable. Police should investigate and find out the real perpetrators,” Mr. Mukut Mani Adhikari said.

Nabadwip Police Station officer-in-charge Jaleswar Tewari said initial inquiry had not revealed a political motive. “We will arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible,” he said.