Bachchu Bera, a middle-aged BJP worker from Dantan, West Midnapore district in West Bengal was missing since 25 October, Sunday, afternoon. The following evening, on 26 October, his body was found hanging from a tree near his house.
The state BJP unit blamed the ruling Trina Mool Congress for the death of its activist. The pattern of the incident, where at first the BJP worker goes missing and eventually his body is discovered hanging from an electric pole or tree near his house, has become very common in West Bengal over the past few years. The death of BachchuBera is only a sequel in the chain of political murders that have taken place in the recent past.
In his reaction on October 26 after the body of Bachchu Bera, the BJP worker was recovered, Dilip Ghosh, state BJP President said, “Our party worker BachchuBera was murdered by TMC goons. We want justice.” Narrating the incident, Ghosh said, “We condemn violence.” TMC, however, denied the charges. Ajit Maity, District President of TMC West Midnapore, strongly refuted these charges and claimed Bachchu was mentally unstable and a drug addict. “We criticize the attempt by the BJP to politicise every death”, the TMC leader said.
The Police was reported to have started an investigation into the case but no arrests have been made so far.
The Bengal BJP also tweeted about the incident. Reiterating that political murder continues in Bengal, the official account said, “… On this auspicious day of Bijaya Dashami, we are sure Good will win over Evil, in the land of Maa Durga. These evils will be eradicated from this pious land next year”, it stated.
Experts say that with the Assembly elections in West Bengal likely to be held in April or May next year, this trend of political violence is likely to increase.
