Did Trinamool Workers Assault a BJP Booth President in Canning?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Incident of violence reported in Canning, West Bengal.
- BJP booth president, Shankar Mandal, severely injured.
- Allegations against Trinamool Congress workers.
- Investigation launched by Canning police.
- Political tensions in West Bengal heightened.
Kolkata, Dec 13 (NationPress) Members of the Trinamool Congress stand accused of severely attacking a BJP booth president using the butt of a gun in Canning, a locality in West Bengal. This incident reportedly occurred on Friday night in Dharmatala village, which falls under the Gopalpur Panchayat in the South 24 Parganas district, according to police sources on Saturday.
The injured BJP leader, identified as Shankar Mandal, is believed to be in serious condition and is currently receiving medical care at a private hospital in Kolkata. The police at Canning have initiated an investigation into this alarming episode.
As per local reports, a BJP meeting was conducted a few days prior in Dharmatala village, led by booth president Shankar Mandal. During this assembly, he allegedly had a minor disagreement with local Trinamool Congress leaders. On Friday, he returned to the village for another party meeting, where he was reportedly assaulted by Trinamool Congress workers, enduring severe beatings, including with a gun's butt.
Other BJP members present managed to rescue the injured leader and promptly transported him to the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital for immediate care. As his health deteriorated, he was subsequently moved to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. He remains hospitalized and continues to receive treatment.
The BJP vehemently condemned the violent act, directing blame towards the ruling Trinamool Congress party. Biswanath Patra, the vice-president of the BJP’s Joynagar organizational district, stated: "On Friday night, one of our booth presidents was attacked by miscreants from the ruling party in Dharmatala village. He was brutally assaulted with shovels and the butt of a gun. He is seriously injured and is currently battling for his life in a private nursing home."
In contrast, the Trinamool Congress has refuted these claims. Saokat Molla, the Trinamool Congress MLA from Canning East, asserted: "No one from the ruling party was involved in this incident. This appears to be an internal dispute within the BJP. We urge the police to conduct a thorough investigation, apprehend those responsible, and ensure they face significant consequences. The BJP's support base is dwindling, which is why they are making unfounded allegations."
Canning Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ramkumar Mandal confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed at the Canning police station by the victim. "We have initiated an investigation based on the complaint. The inquiry is currently in its early stages, and we anticipate that those involved will be apprehended promptly," he commented.