In a grim turn of events, Kolkata witnessed outbreaks of violence over the weekend, resulting in the death of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker and severe injuries to a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
The incidents have added to the tension surrounding the upcoming final phase of elections in West Bengal.
Sanjeev Das, a prominent TMC worker known as Potla, lost his life in the Baguiati area during what authorities described as a clash between factions within the party.
According to police reports, the confrontation escalated into brick-batting, leading to Das sustaining fatal injuries. Despite efforts to save him, Das was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Das, who had a history of legal troubles with eleven cases previously filed against him, was allegedly attacked by individuals aligned with a local councilor, as claimed by his family members.
Simultaneously, in another part of the city, Saraswati Sarkar, a woman leader of the BJP, was brutally assaulted by alleged TMC workers in Anandapur.
Sarkar and her party workers were reportedly putting up election banners when they were attacked with sharp weapons. Sarkar sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to a nearby police station to file a complaint.
Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's IT cell, took to social media to condemn the incident, decrying the safety situation in West Bengal under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.
Malviya's post emphasized the vulnerability of women in the state and underscored the urgent need for action against such violence.
Sarkar, speaking to reporters, recounted the harrowing ordeal, stating that when she attempted to rescue her colleagues from the assailants, she herself became a target of the attack.
The BJP's response to the incidents has been one of outrage and demands for justice. Samik Bhattacharya, a party spokesperson, condemned the attacks, stating that such violence against women was unprecedented in Kolkata's history.
Protests erupted outside the Anandapur police station, with BJP workers demanding swift action against the perpetrators and criticizing the alleged inaction of law enforcement.
In contrast, a TMC leader denied the involvement of the party in the attacks but urged authorities to apprehend those responsible.
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