Yet another TMC worker killed due to infighting between two groups within the party

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 28 APRIL: A Trinamul Congress worker was killed and another one injured when a group of armed men defying lockdown rules carried out an attack on a group of Trinamul Congress workers at Brahmanagar under Chapra police station area in Nadia last night.

Police official said Abu Taher alias Taher Sheikh (44) received bomb injuries and he died on the spot at around 10 pm yesterday. His body has been sent to Saktinagar district hospital for autopsy. Another Trinamul Congress worker named Faruque also received bomb injuries but he fled from the site.

The Chapra police have arrested five persons in connection with the incident based on the complaint lodged by the victim’s family members today.

According to local residents, Taher and his associates were chatting with each other in the BSF’s community room premises when his rival group members suddenly attacked them. They hurled bombs at them and fled the scene. Taher and Faruque received severe bomb injuries. Taher was soon rushed to the Chapra hospital where Taher was declared brought dead.

“We have initiated a probe into this matter and initiated a case against a few men. We hope we will arrest other culprits soon”, a senior police officer said.

Local residents said the two groups are the rival factions within the Trinamul Congress. In November, 2019, a Trinamul Congress worker was killed and two others were injured when two rival factions within the Trinamul Congress engaged in a clash at Brahmanagar. Rafique Sheikh (30) of Betberia died and the attackers hurled a bomb at him. During the clash, one Samim Biswas received severe injuries as he was hacked by sharp edge weapon. Another worker named as Hasan Sheikh was shot at by the rival group members. He received bullet injuries at his leg.

“Yesterday’s incident was the retaliation of November’s attack by the rival faction. They attempted to kill Faruque, a prime accused behind the murder of Rafique, but Taher died as he received severe injuries”, said a local resident.

In November, a group of TMC workers  had conducted a raid at Brahmanagar to kill one Safiuddin Sheikh, a TMC panchayat member. But, informed about the attack, Safiuddin and his associates retaliated with bombs and guns on them leading to a clash between the two groups. During the clash, Rafique died on the spot while a few others were injured.

Locals said one Arsaf, a dreaded criminal in the locality and a TMC worker was then driven out by the villagers. He is now in jail custody. Due to the torture of Arsaf, many TMC workers had left the party and joined the BJP. They later returned back to the TMC as Arsaf was unable to get entry into the village.