A Trinamool Congress worker was killed at Kankartala in Birbhum district marking a return of factional feuds in the West Bengal’s ruling party in the politically volatile region.
Sheikh Niyamul. a Trinamool Congress was attacked on Friday night near Kankratala bus stop when he was returning home. He was admitted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to family members of the deceased Trinamool worker, Sheikh Niyamul was attacked by another party worker Sheikh Kalu. The attack, according to locals, was a result of a feud between two factions of the ruling party.
Use of crude bombs
The police have started raids for those who might be involved in the attack. Blunt weapons like hammers, rods and crude bombs were recovered from Kankartala. Some crude bombs were destroyed with the help of a bomb disposal squad.
The area had also witnessed violence a week ago between supporters of the ruling party. The Officer-in-Charge of Kankartala police station was transferred after the incident.
Birbhum, located in the south-western part of West Bengal, has been a hub of political violence over the past few years. In September 2024, Trinamool Congress district president Anubrata Mondal, who was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling, was released on bail. Mr. Mondal was behind the bars for over two years. Occasionally, reports have emerged of some differences between him and Kajal Sheikh, another influential Trinamool leader from the district.
Asked about the murder of Sheikh Niyamul, Mr. Mondal said: “Police will look into it.” There have been reports of houses being set on fire at Nanoor in Birbhum district over clashes between the two factions.
Factionalism within the State’s ruling party had come to the fore in March 2022, when 11 persons, mostly women, were burnt to death after a house was set on fire at Bogtui village in Birbhum as a result of clashes between two party factions.
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar targeted the Trinamool Congress government over the murder. “Under @MamataOfficial’s rule, now West Bengal has turned into a battleground of Trinamool’s own infighting! Again a @AITCofficial worker was killed by TMC goons over territorial disputes in Birbhum,” Mr. Majumdar said in a post on X. Accusing the Trinamool government of lawlessness and gangster violence, the BJP leader said that the people of Bengal will “definitely close Trinamool’s chapter” in the 2026 Assembly election.
Published – February 22, 2025 10:11 pm IST