Bodies of 3 killed in BJP-TMC clash recovered near Kolkata

Zebunnisa, wife of Abdul Kayum Mollah, deceased TMC activist .

Police on alert as situation is tense in villages where the party workers hailed from

Three bodies have been recovered from two places in Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Paraganas district, about 80 km south of Kolkata following Saturday night’s violence between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.

The police administration is yet to make any official statement.

The two BJP workers who were killed have been identified as Sukanta Mondal, 24, and Pradeep Mondal, 42, while the deceased TMC activist is Abdul Kayum Mollah, 25.

BJP activists claimed that one of their workers, Debdas Mondal, 30, is missing.

 

On Sunday, the situation was tense in Purba Rajbari, where Mollah hailed from, and Bangipara villages, where the Mondals used to reside. Sukanta, Pradeep and Debdas were cousins.

Women could be seen sitting on roads in groups and wailing. A large contingent of armed police personnel is guarding the villages and the Rapid Action Force has also been deployed.

Internet has been cut off and the State police put on high alert.

Blame game

Padma Mondal, wife of one of the deceased BJP activists, Pradip Mondal in Bangipara in North 24 Paraganas district. 

 

The BJP claims that the TMC cadres attacked their activists following a scuffle over the removal of saffron flags.

“They opened fire indiscriminately, killing three of our cadres. Mollah was shot by Trinamool activists only,” Sayantan Basu, a BJP leader, said on Saturday

However, TMC leaders said armed BJP activists had attacked their members and killed Mollah.

“Mollah was hacked to death by the BJP. He was shot too. The BJP is bringing outsiders to attack us,” claimed TMC leader Jyotipriya Mullick.

Mollah was attending a booth committee meeting when he was attacked, the TMC said.

BJP leaders, including MP and State party president Dilip Ghosh, senior leader Mukul Roy, former State president Rahul Sinha and four MPs are on their way to Sandeshkhali.

While BJP supporters flooded social media platforms with detailed description of the incident, the TMC has remained silent.