A political row has erupted in West Bengal after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was brutally hacked and shot dead at his residence in Malda district during Vijaya Dashami celebrations.
The deceased, identified as Samir Ghosh, was killed on Wednesday night in the Ramkeli area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the English Bazar Police Station. According to local sources and the victim’s family, the attack occurred while local residents were gathered at nearby immersion Ghats to mark the final day of the Durga Puja festivities.
Taking advantage of the situation, a group of armed assailants allegedly broke into Ghosh’s home, where he was alone at the time. The attackers initially set upon him with sharp weapons, inflicting severe chop wounds, before shooting him at point-blank range. Ghosh died on the spot from the extent of his injuries.
Upon receiving information about the incident, senior officers from the district police force rushed to the scene to assess the situation and initiate an investigation. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene, whilst extra police contingents have been deployed throughout the Ramkeli locality to maintain order and prevent potential flare-ups. Authorities have taken one suspect into custody for questioning, though the primary perpetrators and the motive behind the attack remain under active investigation.
The victim’s brother disclosed that Ghosh had been receiving continuous death threats owing to his active involvement with the BJP. He claimed that local political adversaries had repeatedly pressured Ghosh to flee the area and abandon his ancestral home—demands he consistently refused. The family has pointed fingers directly at criminals backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging a pre-planned conspiracy to silence an active opponent.
Local TMC leaders have firmly denied any involvement in the murder, dismissing the accusations as baseless political opportunism. Police officials have refrained from confirming whether the crime was strictly political, stating that all angles—including personal enmity and local disputes—are currently being thoroughly examined.
Political violence in West Bengal frequently spikes around major regional events and elections. Over recent years, clashes between rival political cadres in districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, and Birbhum have drawn intense scrutiny from civil rights groups and opposition parties. The timing of this assault, orchestrated amidst the annual festivities, has heightened anxieties across the region as investigators work to identify those responsible.
