Another BJP Worker Found Hanging from Pole in Bengal’s Purulia District; CID Takes Over Probe

Kolkata: The body of a BJP worker was found hanging from an electric pole in Balarampur town of Purulia district on Saturday morning in second such incident this week.

The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Dulal Kumar, the BJP secretary in Balarampur’s Block 10 Zila Parishad. His body was found in a farm land near his house.

The incident, which comes after an 18-year-old BJP worker was found dead in similar circumstances on May 29, sparked panic in Balaramapur with the villagers refusing to allow the police to remove the body. The body was still hanging from the pole at the time of filing this report.

ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma said the investigation has been handed over to the CID. “A conspiracy is suspected as two incidents have occurred in the same district. The role of outsiders is being looked into," he said.

Kumar had been credited with ensuring BJP’s victory in recent panchayat elections in Balarampur’s Khatberia area.

The saffron party alleged that Dulal was “abducted" by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers and “brutally killed".

“Ever since the panchayat election results, Trinamool Congress workers have been threatening our supporters. Late last night, Dulal was abducted by TMC workers and killed brutally. Later, his body was hanged on an electric pole," BJP’s Purulia district president Vidyasagar Chakraborty said.

“We have lodged an FIR at Balarampur police station and demanded immediate arrest of those who are behind the killing," he added.

The BJP also accused the ruling TMC of trying to dismiss Dulal’s death as a case of suicide. “TMC is trying to suppress the matter by pressuring the police to declare it as a case of suicide. We want a team of five doctors to conduct post mortem and record it on video so that it could be submitted before the court for fair investigation," said BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

Vijayvargiya also claimed that he had earlier spoken to ADG Anuj Sharma and alerted him that Dulal’s life was under threat.

Protesting against the incident, BJP workers took out rallies in the district on Saturday. Police teams were rushed to the area to maintain law and order.

The Trinamool Congress, however, alleged a conspiracy by the BJP and sought a “high-level" inquiry. Speaking to News18, the party’s Purulia district president Shanti Ram Mahato said, “The BJP is attempting to gain political ground in Purulia by linking such incidents to our party. It seems to be an attempt to highlight the issue for political gain. We are against any violence and want a high-level inquiry to determine the exact cause of death."

Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien, too, demanded a “proper investigation" into “all angles".