Did Attackers Plan to Kill BJP MP Khagen Murmu?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Khagen Murmu claims the attack was a premeditated attempt on his and Shankar Ghosh's lives.
- Both leaders faced violent protests while delivering flood relief.
- Murmu suffered serious facial injuries and is set for surgery.
- The BJP has filed a police complaint, resulting in arrests.
- Political tensions in West Bengal are escalating.
Kolkata, Oct 9 (NationPress) In his initial statement regarding the brutal attack, West Bengal BJP MP Khagen Murmu remarked on Thursday that the assailants had intentionally plotted to assassinate him and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh during their visit to the flood-stricken region in Nagrakata, located in the Jalpaiguri district.
Currently hospitalized in a private clinic in North Bengal’s Siliguri, Murmu expressed that had they not managed to escape, they would not have made it out alive.
“There was an organized attempt to eliminate us. They even attempted to drag us out of the vehicle. If they had succeeded, they would have smashed our heads with rocks and killed us,” stated the BJP MP, who is scheduled for facial surgery due to fractures in his facial bones resulting from the stone attack.
On Monday, both Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh encountered violent protests while providing aid to those affected by the flooding in Nagrakata.
A mob launched an assault on the BJP leaders using sticks and shoes, and stones were thrown from the river towards their vehicle.
Khagen Murmu suffered significant facial injuries, leading both politicians to be hospitalized for necessary treatment.
While Shankar Ghosh was discharged on Wednesday, Murmu remains hospitalized as he prepares for surgery, with plans for a metal plate to be installed in his left cheekbone.
In the wake of Murmu’s claims, senior Trinamool leader and North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha dismissed the notion of a murder plot, stating, “If someone wanted to kill him, why would he only injure his cheek? He is reciting a script prepared for him by his party.”
Guha noted that Trinamool has already condemned the attack, affirming that the incident was unacceptable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have also expressed their disapproval of the assault on the BJP leaders.
The BJP has filed a complaint against eight individuals at the Nagrakata Police Station in Jalpaiguri, which has led to the arrest of four suspects linked to the incident.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has issued a statement asserting that their members were not involved in the Nagrakata incident, also condemning the attack. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally visited Murmu at the hospital the day after the event.