BJP leader shot dead in Cooch Behar: Cops

The deceased was a resident of Shimultala of Puntimari panchayat. His family alleged that some people barged into the house and shot Prashant. He was admitted to Dinhata sub-district hospital with where he died during treatment.
Additional Superintendent of Police of the district, Kumar Sunny Raj said, “Prashanth has an injury mark on the head. An autopsy will be conducted on Saturday. A probe is on.”

BJP MLA and the Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari tweeted, “WB’s law and order is in tatters. BJP leader Prashanta Ray Basunia was shot dead in Dinhata, Cooch Behar district, WB. The assailants forcefully entered his house and shot him. Hundreds of party members are quitting the regional TMC party in Dinhata and joining the BJP every day. Scared by this desertion, the top level leadership of the TMC party got rattled. This gruesome political murder is the reaction.”

The ruling TMC denied the allegations. North Bengal Development Minister and Dinhata MLA Udayan Guha said, “The TMC is in no way connected with this incident.” He claimed, “There could be three possible reasons for Prashant’s death. First, BJP infighting. The second: Anti-social activities. Also, there is a possibility that he was handling his own gun and accidentally shot himself. Prashant would always keep arms with him. Let the
police investigate…”

Adhikari also demanded a CBI investigation into the case. “I demand CBI investigation as any fair investigation by the police would be obstructed or influenced by the ruling party, due to the involvement of “influential” people. Everyday either people are dying of explosions, murders etc. Political murders targeting opposition party workers have become the norm.Also the Home Minister of WB should accept that she has failed to maintain the Law & Order situation and must resign immediately,” he said.

The BJP has alleged that since the 2021 Assembly polls, TMC workers have been attacking the BJP workers in the area. However, the Trinamool denied all the allegations.