Election violence continues: 1 killed in TMC faction feud

Kolkata/Berhmapore: A Trinamul Congress worker fell victim to alleged faction feud withing the ruling party on Saturday, at Bhatar in Burdwan East, as violence continued in the districts on the last day for the withdrawal of nominations for the panchayat elections.

Ramzan Mollah (55) died in the morning when some Trinamul workers hurled bombs on him. He belonged to the faction led by local Trinamul leader Mangobinda Adhikary who is known for his rivalry with Banamali Hazra of the ruling party.

Ramzan became the target after he engaged himself in poll related work for Abida Sultan who filed her nominations as an independent candidate at Bhumshor village following her dissidence with the ruling party. Abida recently faced threats for contesting the rural polls.

At around 8.30 am some Trinamul workers attacked two relatives of Abida on the road. Ramzan was returning home from the ration shop. He tried to resist the attackers who however hurled five bombs.

While two bombs missed the target, three others exploded leaving Ramzan dead on the road. A police team recovered the body later.

In Murshidabad, two family members of a female Congress candidate: Priyanka Ghosh were shot at allegedly by the Trinamul workers late on Friday night. Ms Ghosh’s father-in-law Sanjib Ghosh and brother-in-law Chiranjit Ghosh have been admitted to Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in central Kolkata.

Ms Ghosh and her husband were not home at Barbatpur in Daulatabad during the attack at around 12 am.

Storming the house of the Ghosh the attackers opened fire on Sanjib and Chiranjit. When they were fleeing from the house, the villagers tried to them. But the accused hurled bombs to keep them at bay.

State Congress president Adhir Choudhury visited the family on Saturday morning. He alleged that the family of Ms Ghosh was attacked because she did not withdraw her nomination even after receiving threats.

The Congress MP claimed, “Since chief minister Mamata Banerjee wants to win all seats in the Panchayat polls, her brothers and the police and administation have been hand in glove to put pressuse on all opposition candidates.”

Rejecting his allegations Trinamul Murshidbad district leader Ashok Das argued that Mr Choudhury should undergo treatment for his abnormal condition.

In Bankura, CPI(M) central committee leader Amiya Patra’s house came under attack allegedly by around 40 Trinamul workers carrying rods and sticks who went on rampage at his residence in Taldangra in the morning.

Blaming the Trinamul for the attack Mr Patra claimed, “I was preparing to go out after having food. The group was standing at the entrance. As I asked their purpose, they stormed my house.” The Trinamul alleged that the attack was the outcome of an internal feud in the CPI(M).