Why Was a Trinamool Panchayat Member Detained Over Murder Charges in Murshidabad?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The murder of Shasti Ghosh has raised concerns about safety in Murshidabad.
- Two individuals, including a local panchayat member, have been detained.
- Initial investigations indicate that the motive may be personal rather than political.
- The deceased had multiple pending criminal cases.
- The investigation is ongoing, and the police are actively pursuing leads.
Kolkata, July 24 (NationPress) A local panchayat member affiliated with the Trinamool Congress in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal has been detained along with another individual on Thursday, related to a murder investigation.
The incident occurred in the Bharatpur area of Murshidabad. Officials have identified the victim as Shasti Ghosh (55), a party worker. He was brutally attacked by a group of assailants near his home early Thursday morning.
Residents discovered his lifeless body in a pool of blood and quickly transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to a police official from the district, this murder may stem from longstanding personal disputes, as multiple criminal cases are linked to the deceased.
Two individuals, including the local panchayat member, have been taken into custody for their involvement. A formal case has been registered, and an investigation is currently underway. Initial findings suggest that there is no political motive behind this act.
“This incident might be due to past grudges,” a senior officer from the Murshidabad police stated.
However, he did not disclose the names of the two suspects in this case.
The police official further noted that the deceased was frequently required to appear at the local police station concerning criminal charges relating to robbery, dacoity, and murder, for which he had already been booked.
The victim's family, however, contends that Ghosh's murder is linked to his affiliation with the ruling party. His nephew, Ashish Ghosh, claimed without naming anyone that there were rival factions within the Trinamool Congress in the area. “They have been plotting to kill my uncle for a considerable time,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Apurba Sarkar, the party's organizational president in Murshidabad, refuted these claims. “The police have initiated an investigation. Those responsible will face justice. However, there is no indication of any factional disputes within our party; this could simply be a case of personal enmity,” stated Sarkar.
In a separate incident, the nephew of a panchayat member was reportedly murdered in a hacking attack at Madhusudanpur in the Kakdwip area of the South 24 Parganas district last night. The victim has been identified as Raqib Sheikh (27). The police have sent his body for a post-mortem examination and are awaiting the results.