The killings in West Bengal continue as a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) worker, a trader, Aseem Saha, was stabbed to death on July 22. The BJP party workers claimed that Saha was killed for refusing to pay a cut to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers. Saha was a resident of Coochbehar. He had a saree showroom in Uttar Dinajpur’s Islampur area. He had come to his uncle’s place in Coochbehar when the incident took place.
The BJP leaders have alleged that Saha was stabbed for refusing to pay extortion or protection money to the goons, who have links with the ruling TMC party. However, the Police claim that the murder was a result of personal rivalry.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) called for a 12-hour general strike in Islampur following the death of Saha. BJYM State President Indranil Khan blamed TMC for his killing.
BJP accused TMC
Khan said, “Aseem Saha was one of our workers. He was working in his store when some TMC goons stabbed him to death in daylight. After a few hours, Aseem was dead. The Police and administration under Mamata Banerjee are not functioning properly. We called a strike against the killing of Aseem Saha and the people of Islampur.”
News agency ANI reported, “Security heightened in Uttar Dinajpur’s Islampur area as a 12 hours general strike has been called by BJYM in Islampur. BJYM State president Indranil Khan claims that a party worker from Uttar Dinajpur’s Islampur was stabbed to death at his shop.”
#WATCH | West Bengal: Security heightened in Uttar Dinajpur's Islampur area as a 12 hours general strike has been called by BJYM in Islampur.
BJYM State president Indranil Khan claims that a party worker from Uttar Dinajpur's Islampur was stabbed to death at his shop. pic.twitter.com/EXlu1wBNwU
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2023
Quoting Surajit Sen, BJP District vice-president, Uttar Dinajpur says “Yesterday, a cloth dealer was stabbed to death for protesting against some goons associated with TMC who were demanding money from him. He died before reaching the hospital. We have called for a general strike in the Islampur area. We have requested locals in Islampur to support the strike,” shared ANI.
Responding to the BJYM’s call for a strike, the Police said, “The BJP has called for a 12-hour bandh and if any attempt is made to disturb law and order, we will take legal action.”
The Video of the murder
Meanwhile, the shocking video of this brutal killing was shared on social media platforms. The clip shows around three four men entering Saha’s shop. First, they call his name and then the others hold him. Finally one of them starts stabbing him mercilessly until he died. When others tried to intervene, they also sustained injuries. Both the victims were rushed to a hospital in Siliguri, where Aseem Saha was declared brought dead.
The police have taken cognizance of the CCTV footage. They have also collected the details from eyewitnesses present at the crime scene. As per their statements, the police arrested a suspect. The officials have launched an investigation into the matter.
The police said, “This seems to be a personal dispute and not a political matter. An argument took place between the attackers and the victim and Saha was attacked with a knife.”
Bengal has been witnessing violence since the announcement of the Panchayat Elections in 2023.
Governor condemned the Panchayat violence
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose condemned the killings and the violence that marred the conduct of the panchayat elections, saying that he was “very disturbed” with what he saw on the ground. Speaking to news agency ANI after polling for panchayats ended, the West Bengal governor said, “What I have seen on the ground is very disturbing, there is violence and murder.”
BJP claimed that at least 45 people have died in the West Bengal Panchayat poll clashes. It also slammed the Trinamool Congress government over the “state-sponsored” violence during the elections, PTI reported.
Sambit Patra calls Rahul Gandhi
“Going by media reports, at least 45 people were killed during the panchayat poll violence. Bombing, bogus voting and rigging are the most used words in media reports… This is ‘nirmamata’ (ruthlessness) and not ‘mamata’ (endearment),” BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
He alleged the Congress’ top leadership and Gandhi, who was opening “mohabbat ki dukan” (shop of love), are silent on the panchayat poll violence in Bengal even though the leaders of the party claimed that their workers were killed.
