Trinamool Congress Leader Killed in Malda
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Synopsis
On January 14, a Trinamool Congress leader was shot dead in Kaliachak, Malda, West Bengal, while two others were critically injured in the daylight attack. The incident raises concerns over internal factional violence within the party.
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress leader Hasan Sheikh was killed.
- Two others remain in critical condition.
- The incident occurred in broad daylight.
- Possible internal party conflicts are suspected.
- Police are investigating the shooting.
Kolkata, Jan 14 (NationPress) A Trinamool Congress leader was fatally shot, and two others sustained severe injuries during a gunfight in Kaliachak, located in West Bengal's Malda district on Tuesday.
The victim has been identified as Hasan Sheikh, a prominent local leader of the Trinamool Congress. The injured individuals include Bakul Seikh, the local president of the ruling party, and his associate Esaruddin Sheikh, both of whom were struck by gunfire. They have been admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital, where their condition remains critical.
Additionally, several others suffered minor injuries during the incident.
This incident occurred on a public road in broad daylight, just 12 days after the murder of Dulal Sarkar, a Trinamool Congress councillor from English Bazar Municipality, also in Malda, who was killed in a similar shooting on January 2.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased and the critically injured individuals were gathered in the Nayabasti area of Kaliachak when a group of assailants arrived and opened fire. Hasan Sheikh, Bakul Sheikh, and Esaruddin Sheikh were all hit by bullets fired from close range, collapsing on the ground in heavy bleeding. They were quickly transported to the hospital, where Hasan Sheikh was pronounced dead.
A significant police presence from the local station has arrived at the scene, initiating a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage. While the exact motive for the shooting remains unclear, some locals indicated to reporters that internal conflicts between rival factions within the ruling party in Kaliachak might have sparked the violence.
It has been established that infighting within the Trinamool Congress in the Malda district was linked to the earlier murder of Dulal Sarkar on January 2. The party’s town president in Malda and the head of the Hindi cell for the district, Narendra Nath Tiwari, has been identified and arrested as the key figure behind Sarkar’s assassination.
As of the time this report was filed, there had been no official response from either the Trinamool Congress or the BJP regarding the recent shooting in Kaliachak.
