BJP enforce 12-hour bandh in East Midnapore over party worker’s murder

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of killing a party worker, on Wednesday called for a 12-hour bandh in West Bengal's East Midnapore district.

BJP worker Bijoykrishna Bhuina was allegedly kidnapped and murdered on Monday. His body was later found near a watercourse near his residence in Moyne.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday accused TMC leaders and local policemen of Bhuina's alleged murder over the incident. Leading a BJP protest in Moyna on Tuesday, Adhikari alleged that police officers, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Amarnath K, and local TMC leaders had planned the murder.

The BJP leader further claimed that Bhunia was killed and then his body was handed over to local police officials. Adhikari asked the CBI to investigate the alleged killing of Bhunia and filed a plea in court seeking an order for the police to hand over the victim's body to his family.

“We don't trust state government hospitals and that's why we want Bhunia's mortal remains back. The post-mortem of the deceased should be conducted at the central government hospital,” Adhikari added. Former cricketer and BJP leader Ashok Dinda, who is MLA from Moyna Assembly constituency, also led a protest outside Moyna police station.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Saumen Mahapatra rubbished all the allegations made by Adhikari.

Earlier in the day, the BJP state leadership held a meeting in Kolkata to remember those who were allegedly murdered by TMC goons after the assembly election result. BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar, National Vice President Dilip Ghosh, Suvendu Adhikari and others attended the meeting.

The saffron party claimed that 61 of its workers have been killed so far in the post-election violence. In a series of tweets, Majumdar said that May 2, 2021 is a dark day in the history of West Bengal. He also alleged that TMC atrocities had killed 11 BJP workers since November last year.