Violence in West Bengal's Joynagar after TMC Panchayat leader's death, houses of CPI-M supporters set ablaze

Two persons, including a Trinamool Congress Area President, were allegedly murdered in South 24 Parganas District's Joynagar on Monday morning. Major row broke out as several houses of CPI-M supporters in the adjoining villages were set ablaze and ransacked, in retaliation of the alleged death of the Trinamool leader, people in the know said. Tension prevails in the area and RAF has been deployed.

The incident in Joynagar brings back the memories of Bogtui where 10 persons were burnt alive in retaliation of Trinamool Congress leader Bhadu Sheikh's murder.

Baruipur district police officials have started probing the case. One person has been arrested in this connection. Senior police official S N Gupta said, "We have started probe in the case and taking help of CID. We expect the case will be promptly solved and the accused will be nabbed."


The Trinamool Congress leader Saifuddin Laskar was allegedly shot dead at Joynagar on Monday morning while he was returning from morning prayers (namaz). Following the incident, a group of people lynched an alleged assailant, police officials said. Laskar was a Trinamool Area (Anchal) president of Bamungachi in Joynagar.

In retaliation more than 20 houses were burnt down, ransacked and allegedly looted in the adjoining villages which were dominated by CPI-M supporters. "Police did not help us. They were standing at a distance and watching while we sought help and our children were thrown into the ponds and houses were burnt," a woman, on condition of anonymity, said.

The villagers claimed that Fire Brigade was not allowed to enter the village initially and police did not take any action.

Senior CPI-M leader and Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty said, "Every death is unfortunate. Trinamool knows who is responsible for its leader's death. Trinamool leader Saifuddin Laskar is a mafia leader. Several houses of our supporters have been burnt down, rampaged and Police acted as a silent onlooker. We were not allowed to enter the area. Who has the responsibility to protect people? It is the administration who should take care of the situation."

West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, " Trinamool's misrule is going on in Bengal."

Reacting sharply, Santanu Sen, Trinamool spokesperson & Rajya Sabha MP, said, "Most political murders of Trinamool workers occurred in the time of Left regime. Despite being in power, Trinamool workers are still victims of political violence. Saifuddin was an Area President and his wife is a Panchayat member. While he was returning from namaz this morning, he was brutally murdered. This Trinamool government and administration is working to bring the situation under control."