BJP worker killed in Nadia; alleged post-election violence

A BJP worker was brutally murdered in Chandpur under Kaliganj police station limits during post-poll violence in Nadia. The victim, identified as Hafijul Sheikh (35), was allegedly attacked by a group of 10-12 men on motorbikes while they were playing carrom on Saturday evening. According to police sources, the attackers first shot Sheikh several times and then stabbed him to death. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the crime. The incident sparked tensions in the area, with residents protesting for more than two hours and preventing police from removing the body.

Finally, the body was sent for an autopsy. BJP's North Nadia district unit president Arjun Biswas accused the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) of masterminding the murder. “Hafijur joined the BJP after the last panchayat polls and actively campaigned for our candidate in the recent assembly elections. He had received threats from TMC workers and a section of the police, warning him of retaliation after the Lok Sabha elections. This is clearly a political killing,” Mr. Biswas said. Soon after the murder, Mr Biswas rushed to the scene last night and monitored the situation.

Today, Mr. Biswas accompanied by Ms. Amrita Roy, the BJP candidate for Krishnagar Lok Sabha seat, met the family members of the deceased and they demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Rukbanur Rahman, a district TMC leader, rejected the allegations, attributing the killing to a family feud and denying any TMC involvement. Rahman insisted that the party had no role in the incident. Relatives of the victims called for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack. Police said the killing may not have been politically motivated.

A senior police officer revealed that Sheikh and one of the attackers had criminal records, including previous jail terms for a dacoity case and involvement in an NDPS case. Preliminary investigations suggest that a land dispute between Sheikh and one of the attackers could have led to a deadly clash. “We have arrested Nashim Mandal on suspicion of being involved in the attack,” the police officer confirmed. Further investigations are underway to uncover the full circumstances of the murder.