BJP worker found dead, party demands CBI probe

According to Suman Dubey, the uncle of the deceased, Subhadeep was in a relationship with a married woman from the village. “Last Tuesday, Subhadeep eloped with the woman and her family had threatened to kill him whenever he returned to Nidhirampur. Today, his body was found. We believe that the woman’s family killed Subhadeep. This is a pre-planned murder,” said Dubey.

“The woman had willingly eloped with him. He did not force her to go,” the uncle said, adding they have lodged a complaint with the police.

“We have started an investigation into the matter. The body has been sent for postmortem,” said a senior police officer of Bankura district.

However, even before the police could reach the spot where Subhadeep’s body was found, local BJP MLA from Saltora, Chandana Bauri, began a demonstration and refused to hand over the body to the officers.

Later, the police recovered the body and sent it for postmortem.

Accusing the ruling TMC workers of the murder of Subhadeep, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

“TMC goons have murdered Subhadeep Mishra and hung his body from a tree with his hands tied. Subhadeep had contested the panchayat elections from Nidhirampur on a BJP ticket. He was murdered as the TMC thieves and goons couldn’t digest his growing popularity and stance against corruption,” Adhikari posted on X.

Demanding a probe into the “role of the Superintendent of Police (Bankura) District Police, in this incident must be investigated thoroughly, Adhikari annexed an order issued by the SP last month. “It seems he wanted to gain direct control by overreaching the limitations of his post. This order seems to be political in nature and not administrative. District Police units are nothing but TMC cadres in uniform. Their only job is to ensure the TMC party’s existence continues as long as possible,” the BJP MLA from Nandigram said.

“I demand CBI investigation as the West Bengal Police would do their best to tamper the evidence and protect the culprits who belong to the ruling TMC party, in order to please their political masters,” he added.

Hitting out at the BJP for trying to “exploit the tragedy”, the ruling TMC denied the charge that their party worker was involved in the murder. “The family of the deceased BJP worker has blamed the death on a complicated romantic relationship. The IC, DSP, and Additional SP are at the spot investigating the cause of the death. Leader of the Opposition, Ashikari, should stop exploiting this tragedy to malign TMC,” said state minister and TMC leader Birbaha Hansda.