Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, has informed the media about the death of a BJP Karyakarta, Sanjay Bera (42), under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. The incident, which Adhikari claims to be a case of police brutality, has reignited concerns over political violence in the state.
According to Adhikari, Sanjay Bera was arrested following a political altercation on June 4 and subsequently placed in judicial custody. He was admitted to Medinipur Medical College due to health complications and later returned to judicial custody on June 11. Adhikari alleges that Bera sustained fatal injuries during his detention, despite police attributing his death to a head injury from a fall.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Adhikari expressed his outrage, stating, “Police are giving a lame excuse that he incurred head injury by falling.” His demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident underscores his suspicion of foul play by the state’s administrative machinery.
Custodial Death of @BJP4Bengal Karyakarta due to Mamata Police Brutality.
Name – Sanjoy Bera
Age – 42
Address – Purushottam Nagar, Debra; Paschim Medinipur DistrictPolice arrested him on 4th June after TMC-BJP scuffle. Was sent to Judicial Custody. Got admitted to Medinipur… pic.twitter.com/ZpnyfTiL7X
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) June 18, 2024
This development comes in the wake of Adhikari’s recent letter to Governor CV Ananda Bose, urging intervention to curb post-election violence following the Lok Sabha 2024 results. Adhikari highlighted incidents of alleged violence by workers of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), reminiscent of clashes that ensued after the 2021 assembly elections, resulting in fatalities among BJP workers.
“As has become synonymous now with the State of West Bengal, the goons of the ruling dispensation have gone berserk upon the workers of BJP after the declaration of results of the Parliamentary General Elections, 2024,” Adhikari wrote in his letter, underscoring the ongoing tension between the BJP and AITC.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for transparency in the investigation into Sanjay Bera’s death. Critics view Adhikari’s stance as a steadfast refusal to back down amidst turbulent political circumstances in West Bengal, portraying him as a leader steadfast in defending his party’s interests despite adversities.
The West Bengal Police and AITC officials have yet to respond to the allegations raised by Suvendu Adhikari, which have cast a shadow over the political landscape in the state.
The unfolding events are likely to intensify the political rivalry between the BJP and AITC, with implications for governance and law enforcement in West Bengal.
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