Two CPM leaders hacked to death in WB

Rally killing sparks tension between TMC and Left

In the first major post poll violence, two CPI(M) leaders including  a former legislator were hacked to death allegedly by the ruling Trinamool Congress supporters at Dewandighi in Burdwan district on Wednesday.

Pradip Tah, who earlier represented Burdwan (North) in the Assembly, and the party’s district committee member Kamal Gayen were lynched during the clash in Dewandighi allegedly by the TMC supporters when they were leading a rally in support of the bandh called by various trade unions on February 28.  

One CPM supporter who was in the rally, said, “We were walking in that rally and suddenly some people pounced on us and dragged them out of the rally. The entire rally went haywire and after an hour or so, when we returned, we found them dead”.

“Two people have died in the incident and bodies have been sent for post mortem. There’s tension in the area but the situation is under control” Burdwan’s Superintendent of Police Syed Hossain Mirza said.

When asked whether anyone has been arrested, Mirza said, “Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.”

Gangeshwar Singh, IG (Western Range), said, “We are thoroughly investigating the incident and hope to arrest all the people soon.” The incident, however, sparked fresh tension between Trinamool and CPM where both the parties blamed each other for the incident.

Lashing out at TMC-led government, Sury Kanta Mishra, leader of the opposition said that the government should take the responsibility for the killing.  

“The chief minister and her government have to take the responsibility. They have to answer why such heinous acts are being perpetuated on the Left Front cadres by Trinamool supporters with the help of the administration. With these two deaths, the total number of Left cadres killed in nine months since the formation of the new government, has gone up to 58,” Mishra said.

 Prohibition

“On Tuesday, the government had issued circular prohibiting government employees from taking part in the industrial strike by taking a day off. The state is in a political chaos because of Trinamool," he said

“Trinamool men attacked a peaceful procession brought out by our party men in support of the Feb 28 all-India strike called by various trade unions. They used lethal weapons  to kill the two leaders,” CPM state Secretariat Member Shyamal Chakraborty said.

Alleging that the CPMsupporters initiated the problem as they tore their party flags, State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said, “Their leaders had instigated them at the rally the CPI-M organised in Kolkata on Sunday to capture political turf by violent means. So the miscreants of the party forcibly removed flags of all other parties, but met with resistance from local villagers.”

Meanwhile, senior Trinamool leader Moloy Ghatak said his party men had been arrested as CPM activists had named TMC supporters in the FIR.