Political Tensions Rise in East Medinipur Following Death of Former TMC Leader

East Medinipur, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : Political tensions surged in East Medinipur, West Bengal, after the death of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bijanbandhu Bag. His passing has ignited accusations between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. Bag, who previously served as the head of the Southkhand Gram Panchayat in the Patashpur assembly area, was reportedly abducted last Thursday.TMC claims that a group of six or seven men arrived at his home, took his motorcycle, and forcibly took him to a local timber mill. According to the party, he was held captive for several days and subjected to physical abuse. Following a complaint from Bag's family, police intervened and arrested two suspects. They found him injured, initially admitting him to the Agra Super Specialty Hospital. He was later transferred to a hospital on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in Kolkata due to his critical condition.Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. The TMC has labeled this incident a political murder, alleging involvement from anti-social elements linked to the BJP. Former state minister and TMC leader Akhil Giri stated that Bag was allegedly kidnapped by a group referred to as the "Bike Brigade," who brutally assaulted him before he was discovered by the police. Giri dismissed any claims of a financial dispute, asserting that the incident was purely political.In contrast, the BJP has denied any involvement, with Somnath Roy, the party's organizational district president for Kanthi, stating that no BJP worker was part of the incident. He emphasized that BJP members have long been victims of violence and called for police to act against any wrongdoers according to the law. Investigations are ongoing, with the two suspects still in custody. Bag's body is undergoing an autopsy in Kolkata, and it is expected to be handed over to his family by Monday.