Tensions erupted in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas on Monday after a local Trinamool Congress leader was shot dead and a villager, alleged to be associated with the murder, was counter-lynched. The local TMC leader and panchayat member Saifuddin Lashkar was shot dead by some unknown assailants from a close range while he was going to a local mosque for morning prayers, according to an IANS report.
Following news of Lashkar's death a section of the villagers especially those affiliated to the ruling party, got furious.
They identified two individuals from the village and started beating them severely, the report stated, adding that the police somehow rescued one of them while the other was lynched by the mob at the spot. The police have refused to identify the lynched and arrested individuals, although they claimed that the arrested individual has confessed about his involvement in Lashkar’s murder.
Soon tension gripped the area as clashes broke out between two groups and at least 10 houses were torched in the locality one after the other. Heavy deployment of police ensued the violence as the personnel tried to bring the situation under control. Tension was still prevailing in the area, the news agency reported till the time the report was filed.
Shortly after, political slugfest started in the state over the twin murders. TMC claimed that the murder of its local leader was planned and implemented by a section of the anti-social elements having close links with both BJP and CPI(M).
“These anti-social elements have been trying to create tension in the area for quite some time and Lashkar became a victim of that,” TMC MLA from Bhangar Assembly constituency Saokat Molla said, as per the IANS report.
The CPI(M) refuted the allegations while BJP alleged that the law and order situation in the area has deteriorated due to infighting within TMC which led to the current situation.