Kolkata, Aug. 25 -- In a shocking turn of events that has exposed an internal fracture within the saffron camp, the cops of Baruipur Police District have arrested four individuals, including a recently suspended local BJP leader, for the brutal murder of 45-year-old party worker Bapi Pramanik.
The incident, which took place in the North Tangarberia area, has thrown the local leadership into damage-control mode as the investigation is reportedly pointing directly to a violent internal rivalry.
According to sources, Bapi was lured out of his residence on Sunday night by a phone call. He was immediately ambushed, dragged onto the street, and hacked to death with iron rods and sharp weapons. Bapi succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Following a swift investigation driven by an FIR filed by the victim's family, the police rounded up four suspects identified as Sujan Mondal, Krishna Mondal, Kanak Mondal and Anil Naiya. Sujan, a local panchayat member, was recently stripped of his organisational post and suspended by the party for his alleged "anti-party activities".
The friction reportedly reached a boiling point over a highly localised power struggle connected to the formation and control of a prestigious neighbourhood Durga Puja committee. Over the issue, a conflict had cropped up involving Bapi and Sujan as rivals.
The family of the deceased has pointed their allegations directly at Sujan for orchestrating the hit. The family also alleged that Sujan acted in collusion with local TMC-backed miscreants to execute the plan. The district BJP leaders have expressed grief over Bapi's death but reportedly find themselves in an embarrassing position as they attempt to distance the party's official image from the actions of the accused.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.