Bengal Panchayat Polls: Man Arrested For TMC Leader's Murder In Malda, Investigation Underway

Abdul Mannan was arrested by Malda police for the daylight murder of a Trinamool Congress leader, Mustafa Sheikh, in Sujapur, West Bengal. Further investigation is underway.

Police personnel stand guard at violence-hit areas ahead of the panchayat elections. (File Photo/Representational Image) ( Image Source :PTI )

The Malda police on Saturday (June 17) arrested a man named Abdul Mannan after a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader — the husband of a former panchayat member of the party — was murdered in broad daylight at Sujapur in West Bengal's Malda district. Mustafa Sheikh was identified as the deceased. The TMC accused Congress workers of carrying out the assassination.

Abdul Mannan, 48, the accused, has been arrested. According to Malda Police, further investigation is underway, news agency ANI reported. 

Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress workers protested the killing by blocking National Highway 34 with Sheikh's body.

Sabina Yeasmin, a cabinet minister from Malda district in West Bengal, later paid a visit to the site.

The State Election Commission has requested a detailed report on the incident from Malda's district magistrate and district police superintendent.

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Yeasmin told reporters that on Saturday afternoon, as Sheikh was returning home from Namaaz, he was attacked by a group of Congress supporters, news agency IANS reported. "The local residents have identified the assassins. Police should arrest them immediately," she said.

The Congress, on the other hand, denied the allegations, claiming that the murder was the result of infighting within the ruling party in the area.

This is the seventh killing in connection with poll-related violence since the State Election Commission announced panchayat election dates on June 8.

At least three people were killed in poll-related violence in West Bengal earlier this week. While one CPI(M) worker was killed in Chopra, North Dinajpur district, two others were killed in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district, where fighting has raged since Tuesday.

The polling is scheduled to be held on July 8. The votes will be counted on July 11.

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