A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in the Jagatdal area in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Ashok Shaw, a former TMC president of Jagatdal Ward No 12.
Ashok Shaw was shot multiple times by miscreants who also hurled bombs when he was standing in front of a tea stall, only a few hundred metres away from Jagatdal police station, police said. He was attacked around 9 am in full public view while he was having tea at a roadside shop.
The TMC leader, out on bail in a 2020 murder case, was rushed to the nearby Bhatpara State General Hospital where he succumed to his injuries, a senior police officer said. Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation in the case.
A few others, who were also injured in the attack, were undergoing treatment in hospital. Police Commissioner of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate Alok Rajoria has rushed to the spot with a huge police force.
"We have started an investigation. Interrogation of the suspects is already on. We haven’t found any political connection in this killing," Rajoria told reporters.
The murder sparked a huge protest with locals staging a demonstration outside the Jagatdal police station. The killing of the local TMC worker comes as polling in six constituencies were conducted in West Bengal by-elections, where the voter turnout stood at 69.29 per cent till 5 pm.
According to Election Commission figures received till 5 pm, Taldangra seat in Bankura district witnessed the state's highest voter turnout at 75.20 per cent followed by Haroa (73.95), Medinipur (71.85), Sitai (66.35), Madarihat (64.14) and Naihati (62.10).According to the poll panel, around 80 complaints were filed, mostly by the BJP. The BJP and other opposition parties accused TMC workers of engaging in voter intimidation in various areas, particularly in Haroa, Madarihat, Sitai, and Taldangra constituencies.