TMC leader thrashed to death, 2 CPI(M) workers arrested

A 52-year-old Trinamool Congress leader was beaten to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers at Khejuri in East Midnapore in the wee hours on Thursday. Two CPI(M) workers were arrested in this connection on Thursday morning.

Police said that the victim Pijush Pramanik was a resident of Sunderpara and the incident took place after he left home to attend a programme during Basanti Puja in adjacent Alipore village.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the CPI(M) workers were keeping a watch on him and followed him after he had left the venue of the programme to return home. They accosted him near a desolate place and asked him to go with them. They threatened him at gun point when he refused to go with them and forcefully took him to an open playground.

Some of the miscreants grabbed his hand from behind and one of the accused poured alcohol into his mouth. They beat him with wooden logs and bamboo sticks till he fainted. He cried for help but there was no one in the vicinity to rescue him.

Pramanik’s family members were worried as he didn’t return home till late night. They started searching for him and contacted other Trinamool Congress leaders in the area. Local people along with the victim’s party colleagues went out to search for him. They contacted the victim’s relatives but they failed to provide any leads.

At this juncture, police help was sought. Policemen from Khejuri police station then joined the search. After around two hours, local people spotted Pramanik writhing in pain in the playground. They took him to the nearest rural hospital in a critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police later came to know that the victim had been receiving threats for the past few days and preliminary investigation revealed that two CPI(M) workers Pabitra Shaw and Sunil Mondal were behind the murder. Both were arrested early Thursday morning. District leaders of the CPI(M), however, claimed that the duo have no connection with the party.

It may be mentioned that 11 Trinamool Congress supporters including Pramanik were killed since the election dates were announced. A few days ago, Joydeb Jana, a booth president of Trinamool Congress, was killed a few days ahead of the elections at Sabang in West Midnapore and there were reports of Trinamool congress workers being attacked in different parts of the state. 

The party's MP Mukul Roy had moved to the Election Commission to file a complaint about the incidents in which leaders and workers of Trinamool Congress were being targeted.