BJP trio arrested for TMC man’s murder in Hooghly

KHANAKUL: Police took three BJP supporters into custody on Sunday, a day after Trinamool member Monoranjan Patra’s murder at a TMC office in Hooghly’s Khanakul. The arrests came as TMC youth wing president Abhishek Banerjee arrived here, met Monoranjan’s family and said that CM Mamata Banerjee was monitoring the situation.
The BJP supporters — Bibhas Malik, Shyamal Bag and Bhupati Kotal — were among 16 named in the FIR lodged at Khanakul police station on a complaint by Monoranjan’s brother, Sandip.Hundreds of TMC workers and supporters gheraoed the police station on Sunday morning. They calmed down after the arrests.
Monoranjan (56), a Khanakul panchayat samiti member, was attacked with rods and bamboo poles around 7.30pm on Saturday. He was secretary of Khanakul’s Harish Chowk High School, where he taught part-time. His family told Abhishek he had been attacked three days ago but police did nothing to increase his security. Sandip was heard sobbing: “Three persons who switched to BJP from CPM attacked him. My brother was taken to Khanakul hospital, but he had died by then.”
Abhishek later told the media: “Goons whose name spelt terror during Left rule are back in action. Earlier, they enjoyed the shelter of CPM’s Hooghly strongman Anil Basu. Now, they are spreading terror under the saffron party banner. Ram bhakts who claim to champion Hindutva interests are not hesitating to kill Hindus either. Please remain united and don’t fear. I will return 10 days from now. CM Mamata Banerjee is personally monitoring developments in Khanakul.”
The murders of two partymen in Arambag and Khanakul, however, have left local TMC workers jittery. However, BJP Arambag chief Biman Ghosh said: “This latest incident is the outcome of factionalism wi-thin TMC. They are blam-ing BJP for every incident. BJP is in no way involved (but) police are arresting anyone working for BJP.”
Hooghly SP Sukhendu Hira said: “We are conducting a thorough probe and have arrested people named in the FIR. A police picket has been posted in the area.”