BJP worker found dead in Bengal's Birbhum, party says TMC behind murder

In a shocking incident, just two days prior to the scheduled voting for the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was tragically killed in Birbhum district.

Dilip Mhara, the 48-year-old booth vice president of Hingla Gram Panchayat, was found dead near his house with neck injuries. The incident occurred on Wednesday night and his body was discovered on Thursday morning.

The BJP issued a statement expressing that Mhara had been missing since Wednesday night. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter. Birbhum Superintendent of Police, Raj Narayan Mukherjee, confirmed the incident.

In another incident, the lifeless body of Kamal Sheikh was found near his house in Beldanga Maheshpur village, Murshidabad. Blood was visible at the scene, and bomb-making materials were discovered. Sheikh was known to be involved in supplying bombs, according to local residents. With these incidents, the death toll in relation to the panchayat elections has now risen to 18.

Furthermore, on Wednesday night, Congress workers Riazul Mandal (55) and Ajbar Mandal (55) were attacked with bombs in Domkal Ghodamara Panchayat, Murshidabad. Allegations suggest that Trinamool workers, including the husband of Trinamool candidate Sajuma Biwi, were responsible for the assaults.