BJP’s Malda (SC) candidate hit in throat by bullet; party worker dies in Nadia

Malda/Nadia/Burdwan: BJP’s Malda (SC) candidate Gopal Chandra Saha was hit by a stray bullet in his throat when he was busy campaigning at Sahapur Bazar in Old Malda city on Sunday evening.
Saha was rushed to Malda Medical College and Hospital, where doctors were trying to locate the bullet. Hospital sources said Saha was stable and his vital parameters were fine.He will undergo an operation.
It was not clear where the bullet was fired from around 8.45pm. BJP accused “Trinamool goons” of opening fire at the busy marketplace. Trinamool Congress denied any role and sought a thorough probe.
Saha’s nomination had triggered a major internal feud in BJP. Party supporters had blocked roads, protesting against his candidature from Malda (SC) constituency.
Sunday was marred by other violence too, reported from pockets where polling got over the day before.
Within 12 hours of polling at Chakdaha assembly constituency in Nadia, active BJP worker Dilip Kirtania, who was threatened with “dire consequences” on poll day, was found lying unconscious, injuries all over his body, in the bush behind his Routari locality home by his mother.
“Dilip was rushed to Chakdaha State General Hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” said Chakdaha’s BJP candidate Bankim Ghosh. According to Ghosh, Dilip’s mother said he had stepped out to the toilet just outside their home past midnight. She found the rear door ajar at 6am and saw Dilip lying in the bush.
Dilip, 30, was allegedly threatened by Trinamool goons on Saturday. He had been beaten up during the last Lok Sabha polls, and was reportedly asked to quit BJP.
Demanding arrest of the culprits within 24 hours, BJP workers besieged Chakdaha police station and blocked NH-34. BJP leaders Soumitra Khan and Kailash Vijayvargiya were scheduled to reach the spot.
Trinamool denied any role in Dilip’s death. The party’s Chakdaha candidate, Jishu Singh, said: “A proper investigation will reveal the truth. Trinamool is in no way involved in the murder.” Singh instead alleged that BJP goons had unleashed terror by attacking TMC supporters’ houses since last evening.
Also on Sunday, a clash broke out between Trinamool and BJP supporters at Lakshmipur ground in South Burdwan. Both camps claimed that their supporters were beaten up with flag poles.