West Bengal’s Purulia district was once again on the boil as two persons were killed and four others injured in a clash between two groups on Wednesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the Trinamool Congress was behind the murder.
The deceased persons were identified as Dipak Mahato (40) and his father Lal Mohon Mahato (58) while the injured are Birinchi Mahato (48), Gurupada Mahato (43), Ram Krishna Mahato (22), Anjana Mahato (70).
According to preliminary reports, around 3.30 pm on Wednesday, Dipak Mahato started abusing Birinchi and his family members which irked them and both the groups got into a heated argument. Soon, it turned out to be a bloody affair with each group trying to hurt the other with sharp weapons.
After the police of Kenda police station arrived on the spot they found six persons lying in a pool of blood, and sent them to a local hospital. While Dipak and his father were declared dead, the other four were admitted with serious injuries.
Police said primarily it seemed to be a clash between two families. But they were investigating the matter to try and figure out if there was any other angle in the incident.
Local BJP leaders said all of them were BJP supporters and accused the Trinamool Congress of using goons to kill their supporters. With BJP’s growth continuing in this part of the state, TMC is resorting to violence out of anger and frustration, the BJP claimed.
In July this year, the BJP claimed that two of the party workers – who were found hanging – had been hacked to death by TMC goons in Purulia’s Balarampur. BJP president Amit Shah visited Purulia last week and warned the ruling party not to indulge in violence.
Cover photograph: Kenda police station
