Three people have reportedly died when unidentified gunmen attacked the car of Trinamool Congress MLA Biswanath Das yesterday. As per reports, the gunmen fired indiscriminately and hurled petrol bombs at the car at Joynagar, South 24 Paraganas District on Thursday. The TMC MLA was unhurt as he had disembarked from the car when it stopped near the party office.
The miscreants blocked the MLA’s car near the Petrol Pump at Jamtala in Kultuli and started hurling petrol bombs. They are reported to have fired at the SUV indiscriminately for 5 minutes before fleeing the scene. The Police have started an investigation into the matter. The deceased are identified as Saifuddin Khan, a close aide of Das and local TMC leader, the driver of the vehicle named Babu and a bystander named Salem Khan.
The MLA from Jaynagar told the Indian Express, “Three persons died on spot including my driver Babu Molla and associate Saifuddin Khan. It was clearly a planned attack and I was the target. I had a narrow escape because I suddenly changed my mind and got down at the party office. I have already spoken to my party leaders and police. It is too early to say who is behind the attack.”
The attack has started a political blame game. While the TMC blamed the CPI(M) for the attack, the Communists claim that the attack was a consequence of an internal feud within the TMC. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “Jaynagar people are living in fear. The shootout culture is new in Bengal and such incidents are taking place daily in some or the other district. There is no safety and security of life under this government. Their own supporters are not safe. Only the chief minister and few of her confidants are safe. This incident is the fallout of a TMC factional feud.”
The TMC has denied such allegations. “The CPM says a lot of things. It is an unfortunate incident, but under their (CPM’s) regime, the situation was much more. Let the police investigate and the law will take its own course,” TMC district president Subhashish Chakraborty asserted.