Purulia youth killing turning another flashpoint between TMC, BJP

With Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee vowing to turn Purulia into an "opposition-free district", West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh today warned that situation could be "dangerous" as several people were being killed to achieve the objective.

Killing of a 20-year-old Dalit youth whom BJP claims as its member in Purulia district has turned out to be new flashpoint between ruling TMC and the saffron party seeking to gain ground in the state.

"The manner in which the TMC is trying to make the state opposition-free by killing people is going to be dangerous. What kind of politics is this? What type of administration is this?," Ghosh said while addressing a rally held in North 24 Parganas district's Habra.

The rally was to protest the killing of Trilochan Mahato in Balarampur in Purulia district on May 30 last. He was found hanging from a tree near his home.

An unsigned handwritten note in Bengali found near Mahato stated that he was "punished for working for the BJP" during the recent panchayat polls in the state.

"We can also free up many things. We have already made the entire India opposition-free. And you (Abhishek) are in a corner of West Bengal and even you will also disappear," he said.

The state BJP chief highlighted several incidents of violence in the state during the recent panchayat elections to drive home the point.

Banerjee, who heads TMC youth wing, during a rally held in the city last Tuesday had vowed to turn Purulia into an "opposition-free district".

Banerjee had said that he would visit the region along with party secretary-general Partha Chatterjee for the purpose.

"They (the BJP) are flying high following their electoral performance in Purulia. But you have to keep in mind that TMC has also performed well in Purulia. I will visit the district on June 1 (Friday) and make sure the opposition's (panchayat seats) tally is reduced to zero," he had said at the rally.

In the Balarampur block where Trilochan's village is located, BJP won majority in seven gram panchayats and the panchayat samiti, snatching them from Trinamool.

The BJP state president also hit out at the state police and alleged that they were "working" for the TMC resulting in the common people losing their faith in police.

"Today police in West Bengal is not working for the public. But they are working for the TMC and that is why the common people have lost their faith in them. That is why these days there are several incidents where policemen are attacked by common men," the BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said that that the BJP was busy with issues which had nothing to do with the common people.

"They (the BJP) are still busy with the panchayat elections. But they are not at all interested about the people's sufferings because of the everyday hike of petroleum prices. They have no responsibilities towards the real issues of the people. We (TMC) under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, are always for the cause of the common people," Chatterjee said.