Fresh killing in WB Panchayat Elections: TMC worker shot dead in Basanti, South 24 Parganas

Amid ongoing violence during the West Bengal panchayat elections, a tragic incident occurred in Basanti, South 24 Parganas, as young Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers were shot dead. Ziaul Molla, a TMC leader, was fatally injured while returning home in Phulmalanch area when gunfire erupted on the road. Despite being rushed to the Canning sub-district hospital, he was declared brought dead by doctors.

Following the incident, tension has gripped the Canning and Basanti areas of South 24 Parganas since Saturday night. With 13 deaths reported in election-related violence across the state so far, a significant deployment of police forces has been implemented to maintain control.

The incident in Basanti arose from clashes between two factions of the TMC, which intensified during the election campaign. The police intervened to handle the situation, including allegations of lathi charge. However, tensions escalated again in the evening, leading to the shooting in the Fulmalanch area. Ziaul, a 40-year-old resident, was surrounded by miscreants on motorcycles who fired shots at him, fatally striking him in the head and stomach. Despite immediate transportation to the Canning Sub-Divisional Hospital, he could not be saved.

With a total of 13 political activists losing their lives since the nomination phase of the panchayat elections, authorities are investigating whether this attack is connected to the ongoing conflicts between different factions of the TMC, particularly in areas like Basanti.

Expressing grief over the incident, Shaukat Molla, MLA of Canning East, stated that four unidentified individuals shot and killed Ziaul, emphasizing the need for swift arrests of those responsible.

Violence has marred various stages of the panchayat elections in several parts of West Bengal, from nomination protests to clashes in areas such as Chopra, Bhangar, Canning, and beyond. In response to the escalating violence, 315 companies of central forces have been deployed across the state.