Ahead of July 8 Bengal panchayat polls, Independent candidate’s husband found dead in Birbhum

His wife, Chitre Mahara, claimed her husband was a BJP worker and was killed by the Trinamool Congress, a charge denied by the ruling party.

Chitre said, “He left the house at 4.30 pm on Wednesday and I talked to him over the phone at 8 pm. Since then, he wasn’t seen by anyone”.

Utpal Mahara, the son of the deceased, said, “I was not able to find my father since 9 pm. He has been killed by the men of Kali Banerjee (Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district joint convener). Let him be arrested. I want punishment for them. Let the case be investigated”.

According to a police officer, Dilip was killed using a sharp weapon and the actual cause of his death has to be ascertained.

Chitre was to supposed to file nomination papers as a BJP candidate, however, the party said it did not give her the ticket.

Reacting to the allegation against him, Banerjee said, “Trinamool does not do politics of murders. Let them investigate his death. Our workers are not involved”.

Trinamool District vice-president Malay Mukhopadhyay said, “The BJP is doing politics for profit. Let the police investigate the murder”.

As many as 17 people have been killed ever since the polls were announced on June 8 with the Opposition party pointing fingers at the Trinamool. On its part, the Trinamool has called the allegations baseless and its leaders have pointed out that a majority of those killed belonged to their party.

The single-phase West Bengal panchayat elections will be held on Saturday, and the votes will be counted on July 11.