Trinamool Worker Killed In Bengal, Former State Congress Chief Among 23 Blamed

Kolkata: Ahead of the second phase of polling in the state on Monday, a local Trinamool Congress leader was attacked and killed in the West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Friday night.

The family of Joydeb Jana, 30, has alleged it is a case of political violence and named former state Congress chief Manas Bhuniya and his brother Bikash among 23 people for the alleged murder. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked for the Election Commission's intervention. "EC must take appropriate action immediately. This is a result of Md Salim's revenge remark. An innocent person lost his life," she said blaming CPM lawmaker Mohammed Salim.

Mr Jana was returning from a campaign rally when he was allegedly attacked with bamboo sticks and iron rods by a group of people. He died on the spot.

"Woke up to the sad news of the cold-blooded, political murder of my co-worker Joydeb Jana in Sabang. The CPI(M), Congress and the BJP have more blood on their hands," Trinamool lawmaker and spokesperson Derek O'Brien said in a statement. "Have spoken to my colleagues in West Midnapore district. They confirm that the murder was done without any provocation. The Congress, CPI(M) and the BJP know their campaign is having no impact on the ground. Hence they are resorting to 'bloody tactics' of vendetta," he said.

Congress leaders said the case is a political conspiracy and their workers were nowhere close to the scene of crime. The police say they are investigating the charges but no arrests have been made yet.