BJP worker murdered in Baruipur: 4 arrested, old enmity suspected
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police on Tuesday, 25 August arrested four persons in connection with the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Bapi Pramanik in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas district. Pramanik was allegedly attacked and hacked to death on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, reportedly over a long-standing personal enmity.
Who Was Arrested
The four accused identified by Baruipur Police District officials are Sujan Mondal, Krishna Mondal, Kanak Mondal, and Anil Naiya. Notably, Sujan Mondal is a former local BJP leader who was recently suspended from the party for alleged anti-party and immoral activities. All four are expected to be produced before a district court later on Tuesday, where the public prosecutor is likely to seek their police custody.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Pramanik's family, he received a phone call late on Sunday night asking him to step outside his home. Once outside, he was allegedly set upon and killed. The family named Sujan Mondal as the alleged mastermind, and a family member claimed Mondal was present at the scene when Pramanik was attacked by his associates.
Krishna Mondal, Kanak Mondal, and Anil Naiya were initially detained and questioned on Monday afternoon. Based on information gathered during interrogation, all three — along with Sujan Mondal — were subsequently placed under formal arrest. An FIR has been registered at Baruipur police station on a complaint filed by the victim's family.
Police Probe and Political Angle
Police said the murder is suspected to have stemmed from rivalry between two groups within the local organisation, though investigators are still probing the exact motive and the specific role played by each accused. 'Investigators are probing the exact reasons behind Bapi's murder and the role played by each accused in the crime,' a Baruipur Police District official said.
BJP district leaders, including former organisational district president Uttam Kar, clarified that Sujan Mondal had been suspended from the party some time ago. Kar alleged that persons associated with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) were behind the killing — a charge that has not been independently verified by police. Kar also claimed that Pramanik had been forced to leave his home for nearly 10 years during a previous TMC government due to his BJP affiliation, and had returned home only after the West Bengal Assembly elections held earlier this year.
What Happens Next
With all four accused set to face a district court, the public prosecutor is expected to seek police remand to allow deeper investigation into the conspiracy angle. The case is being watched closely given its potential political dimensions in a state where inter-party violence has historically been a contentious issue.