‘Utterly Reprehensible’: Rahul Gandhi Condemns Killing Of Congress Worker In Asansol Amid Polls

Last Updated:April 26, 2026, 11:11 IST

In a post on X, the Congress MP expressed condolences to the bereaved family and accused the Trinamool Congress of fostering a “reign of terror” in West Bengal.

A 43-year-old share trader, who was also a Congress worker, identified as Debdeep Chatterjee, was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths in front of his wife and 10-year-old son in the early hours of Saturday in West Bengal’s Asansol following an altercation.

According to his wife, Piyali Chatterjee, the family was returning home around 1 am after attending a birthday party when the incident occurred near their housing complex. “My husband was driving the car. As soon as we reached in front of our housing complex in Asansol town, our car happened to dash into a motorbike parked on the roadside," she said.

She added that some local youths sitting near the bike stopped their car. “My husband got out of our car and apologised for the incident, but the youths started quarrelling," Piyali said.

Debdeep then told them he would call local Congress leader Prasenjit Puitandy, secretary of the housing society, as the incident had taken place outside their residential complex.

“Suddenly, the youths started beating up my husband. My son and I requested them with folded hands to spare him, but they went on assaulting my husband," she said. During the assault, one of the youths allegedly punched and pushed him to the ground, causing his head to hit the road and leaving him unconscious.

Debdeep was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Local Congress leaders alleged that the attackers were aides of Trinamool Congress councillor Animesh Das. The councillor, however, denied any knowledge of the incident.

“I am out of station. I have no idea about the incident. But the accused persons are in no way connected with my party or me. The police will investigate the matter," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday condemned the killing of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee, calling it “utterly reprehensible" and alleging involvement of “TMC-affiliated thugs" in the incident.

In a post on X, the Congress MP expressed condolences to the bereaved family and accused the Trinamool Congress of fostering a “reign of terror" in West Bengal, claiming that intimidation and attacks on political opponents have become routine after elections.

He asserted that Congress has always adhered to non-violence despite losing workers and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible, strict punishment, and adequate security and compensation for the victim’s family, adding that the party “will not bow" to such politics and that justice must be ensured.

The body has been sent for postmortem. Piyali said, “I have informed the police about the incident verbally. I will lodge a written complaint too."

Police said an investigation has been initiated based on preliminary information. “The body was sent for postmortem. We will initiate a specific case on the incident once the postmortem report comes," an officer at Asansol South police station said.

Following the incident, Congress workers led by Puitandy staged a protest outside the Asansol South police outpost, demanding immediate arrests.

“Debdeep was very active in our party and attended every campaign before the polls. He was killed by Trinamool goons because of his political affiliation. This is the law and order in our state after the polls," Puitandy said.

Rejecting the allegations, Trinamool district convenor V. Sivadasan Dasu said, “The Congress has no credibility in Asansol, and so they are cooking up stories and bringing false allegations against us to drag the attention of the media."

News india ‘Utterly Reprehensible’: Rahul Gandhi Condemns Killing Of Congress Worker In Asansol Amid Polls

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