What Happened to the Trinamool Booth Convener in Bengal's Bankura?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress booth convener shot dead in Bankura.
- Incident highlights potential political violence.
- Accusations exchanged between Trinamool and BJP.
- Police investigation ongoing with no arrests made.
- Concerns raised about the implications for upcoming elections.
Kolkata, Aug 12 (NationPress) A Trinamool Congress booth convener was tragically shot dead in Chakai village under Sonamukhi police station in Bankura district of West Bengal, as reported by officials on Tuesday.
The incident took place on Monday night, with the victim identified as Sikander Khan, also known as Sayan Khan.
Police reports indicate that the assailants attacked him from behind while he was riding home from the local Pakhanna Bazar on his motorbike.
The Trinamool leader suffered multiple gunshot wounds. After he fell to the ground, the attackers fled the scene. Officers from the Sonamukhi police station arrived after being alerted and are now investigating the motive behind this heinous act. No arrests have been made yet.
A senior officer from the Bankura police stated, "The incident occurred around 10 p.m. last night. He was shot from behind while on his motorbike and died instantly due to multiple gunshot wounds. We are currently investigating the motive behind this killing."
The victim was shot in the back and head. The police subsequently recovered his body and transported it to the Sonamukhi Rural Hospital for an autopsy. Local sources suggest that Sayan was a prominent figure within the Trinamool party, leading many to suspect that the murder was premeditated.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Subrata Dutta, the Trinamool's district president, Sonamukhi Mayor Santosh Mukherjee, and other party leaders visited the scene. They accused the BJP of orchestrating the murder.
Dutta claimed, "With the impending loss of the Sonamukhi Assembly seat in the 2026 state elections, the BJP plotted this murder. Sayan was an adept organizer in the area, which is why he was targeted in such a calculated manner."
Conversely, the BJP denied these accusations, asserting that the incident stemmed from internal conflicts within the Trinamool. BJP MLA Dibakar Gharami stated, "The BJP has no involvement in this murder. The leader was killed due to factional disputes within the Trinamool over land issues."