AGARTALA:
A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporter and a member of the party’s Scheduled Caste (SC) wing was allegedly killed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at Kamalpur village in Tripura’s South district, on late February 10 evening.
According to a family member of the deceased, Benu Biswas (48) was thrashed to death by four to five alleged BJP workers when Biswas was returning home from the market.
“Yesterday in the late evening, my uncle was returning home from the market when some BJP workers allegedly attacked him with lathis and sharp weapons. My uncle was riding his bicycle and the BJP goons hit him from behind. After hearing him scream, I rushed to the spot and found Joydeb Sarkar and Mithan Karmakar with lathis and other sharp weapons. The rest fled the spot. They had also attacked my elder brother earlier,” he alleged.
The villagers also staged a road-blockade against the alleged murder, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
“We have registered a case with the PR Bari Police station against Jhutan Chakraborty, Naresh Chakraborty, Joydeb Sarkar and Manik Lal Sarkar. When we were protesting, a few BJP goons came and threatened us to lift the blockade,” he said.
When Biswas’ mortal remains were brought back home on the morning of February 11, CPI-M state committee secretary Jitendra Chowdhury, MLA Sudhan Das and Ratan Bhowmik were also present.
“After the BJP government was formed in the state, this is the 23rd murder of our party workers. Benu Biswas was a good human being, and he was killed only because he was a CPI-M. This is not the first time that Benu’s family members have come under attack. Not only them, but the BJP goons have also attacked many others from this area,” Jitendra said.
Later, the CPI-M West Tripura district committee took out a big rally at the heart of Agartala city blaming the ruling BJP government.
“Protesting against this murder, we have organised a protest rally demanding immediate arrest of the culprit,” said secretary of CPI-M West Tripura district committee, Ratan Das.
Reacting to the incident, the additional superintendent of police of South district, Rajib Sengupta, said, “The person, Benu Biswas, was reportedly killed yesterday and the protesting villagers staged a road blockade. They have lifted the blockade and the situation now is normal. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and a probe is underway.”