BJP leader Manish Shukla shot dead in Barrackpore, party blames Trinamool Congress, bandh called

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manish Shukla was shot dead on Sunday evening near the Titagarh police station. He is said to be close to the party MP Arjun Singh. The BJP has blamed ruling party in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress for the murder and called a 12-hour bandh in Barrackpore area on Monday. Trinamool Congress meanwhile, has said that an inner party feud has led to the murder.

Shukla was shot dead when he was speaking with some local people and party workers. Some men apparently came in two-wheelers near Shukla and shot him from close range. He was shot in the chest and head. He was taken to a private hospital in Barrackpore first and then to Kolkata, but he passed away. He is a member of the BJP’s district committee in Barrackpore and has been councillor from Titagarh. Shukla was earlier with the Trinamool Congress and had joined the BJP. He is said to be close to CPIM leader Tarit Topdar when the Left Front government was in power in the state.

There has been tension in the area since the incident. A huge contingent of police personnel is deployed in the area. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar condemned the incident in a tweet and called the DGP and home secretary to the Raj Bhawan at 10 am today.