15 days since West Bengal panchayat poll announcement, 9 deaths in state

Sheikh was killed on June 9, the first day of filing of nominations, with the Congress claiming that he was an active party worker. He was employed in Kerala and had come to his village in Bengal around 10 days ago. Police arrested two people for the murder, and said the killing was the fallout of an old land dispute. The TMC, meanwhile, denied allegations that it had any links to his murder.

Mansur Alam (23), CPM worker from North Dinajpur

Alam was shot on June 15 during clashes in Chopra area of Uttar Dinajpur district on the last day of filing of nominations. Locals said he was associated with the Democratic Youth Federation of India. According to police, he was hit by a bullet when CPM and Congress workers and supporters were on their way to submit nominations and miscreants opened fire. A murder case was filed and 17 persons have been arrested in this connection.

Mohiuddin Molla (24), ISF worker and daily labourer from Bhangar

Molla died in an alleged clash between ISF and TMC workers on June 15. Police have filed a murder case and named 20 people in the FIR, including TMC leader Arabul Islam and his son Hakimul Islam.
Rashid Molla (in his 40s), TMC wager from Bhangar

Considered close to the local MLA, he was allegedly part of the clash between ISF workers and TMC on June 15. A murder case been lodged in this connection. The police have filed seven cases in connection with an unrest in Bhangar, including three murders, including that of an ISF worker and two TMC activists. Some ISF workers have been arrested in Molla’s murder case.

Raju Naskar (40), TMC worker from Bhangar

He was allegedly beaten to death during the same clashes on June 15. ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui and 68 others have been named in the FIR, with police already having made some arrests.

Mustafa Sheikh (62), TMC candidate from Malda

He was on his way home on June 18 when he was attacked by unidentified persons. Sheikh was a former Gram Panchayat head and was contesting panchayat elections from Sujapur. Police are probing if he was killed by others from the same party who were vying for a ticket.

Mohammel Haque (42), TMC local area secretary from Murshidabad

He was supervising 14 panchayat candidates and was killed on June 16. Congress’s block committee member Bajre Alam Sheikh has been arrested alongside five others in connection with the case.

Sambhu Das (28), BJP worker from Cooch Behar

Das was the brother-in-law of BJP’s panchayat poll candidate Bishakha Das and was the proposer during the nomination process. Das’s family alleged he was attacked by armed men when he stepped out of the house on June 17. They also alleged they were being threatened to withdraw Bishaka’s nomination.

Dhananjoy Choubey (46), TMC functionary from Purulia

TMC’s Adra town president, Choubey was killed on June 22. He was inside the party office when some people fired at him. His bodyguard Tanmay Paul was injured in the incident. Two persons, including the local Congress candidate, have been arrested.