Kolkata:
Elections in West Bengal are still a few months away, but poll violence may have already started. There's a political turmoil over the death of a student Swapan Koley in a clash between CPM and Trinamool student unions.
Koley, a second year student of Jagadbandhu College in Howrah, died in hospital last night after being beaten up with iron rods.
The CPM has accused Mamata Banerjee of instigating the violence and a Trinamool activist has also been arrested in connection with the murder. But the Trinamool has denied any role in the student's death and called for a CBI probe into the incident.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya laid a wreath on the body of Swapan Koley. Koley was a member of the CPM's student wing SFI and the party is blaming Mamata Banerjee for his death.
"For heaven's sake, don't say it was a clash between student unions. Clash is something else. This is a cold blooded fascistic murder to create a situation to give a photo-option to some people, and to tell people in Delhi that there's election violence in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is directly instigating this," said Md Salim, CPM.
At Koley's home, there was anguish and anger . The arrested person is believed to be a local Trinamool leader. But Trinamool says he is only a party supporter and denies that its student wing had anything to do with Koley's death.
"TMC chatra parishad has nothing to do with this murder. We are not taking any responsibility. These are all wild allegations. Those who are certain to be defeated are making these wild allegations," said Sudip Bandopadhyay, Trinamool MP.
Student clashes are not uncommon in Bengal's colleges but this is the first time in recent years that someone has been killed. Many fear this is the start to a bloody run up to Assembly elections. Even the Governor has expressed concern.
Koley, a second year student of Jagadbandhu College in Howrah, died in hospital last night after being beaten up with iron rods.
The CPM has accused Mamata Banerjee of instigating the violence and a Trinamool activist has also been arrested in connection with the murder. But the Trinamool has denied any role in the student's death and called for a CBI probe into the incident.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya laid a wreath on the body of Swapan Koley. Koley was a member of the CPM's student wing SFI and the party is blaming Mamata Banerjee for his death.
"For heaven's sake, don't say it was a clash between student unions. Clash is something else. This is a cold blooded fascistic murder to create a situation to give a photo-option to some people, and to tell people in Delhi that there's election violence in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is directly instigating this," said Md Salim, CPM.
At Koley's home, there was anguish and anger . The arrested person is believed to be a local Trinamool leader. But Trinamool says he is only a party supporter and denies that its student wing had anything to do with Koley's death.
"TMC chatra parishad has nothing to do with this murder. We are not taking any responsibility. These are all wild allegations. Those who are certain to be defeated are making these wild allegations," said Sudip Bandopadhyay, Trinamool MP.
Student clashes are not uncommon in Bengal's colleges but this is the first time in recent years that someone has been killed. Many fear this is the start to a bloody run up to Assembly elections. Even the Governor has expressed concern.
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