TMC booth chief killed, kin claim factional feud

Brutal Murder Shocks North 24 Parganas Community

A 38-year-old Trinamool Congress booth president was found dead on Thursday morning in Minakhan, North 24 Parganas, bearing horrific signs of violence that have left locals reeling. Kazi Masiur Rahman, also known as Masiur Gazi, served as the booth president for booth number 178 under Champatala gram panchayat in Deganga. His blood-soaked body was discovered wrapped in a thin blanket by the roadside near Haroa-Bhangar Road, with his wrists severed and acid burns visible on his face.

Police suspect he was hacked to death elsewhere before the body was dumped at the site. Rahman, a garment trader by profession and an active party worker, had stepped out after receiving a phone call around 9 pm the previous night. His phone went silent afterward, prompting an overnight search by family members who later identified the body. The gruesome discovery has ignited fear and outrage in the area, especially as the region gears up for elections.

Family Points Finger at Party Factionalism

Rahman's kin have wasted no time in blaming bitter internal rivalries within the TMC for the killing. His wife, Sabina Bibi, recounted how her husband had recently clashed with local party leaders over a road construction project in the area. Local TMC activists echoed these sentiments, naming a senior Trinamool figure in Deganga block as a possible suspect.

He was attacked a few days ago and feared an attempt on his life. We had gone to Deganga police station, but our complaint wasn't taken. My husband fell prey to bitter rivalry between factions of Trinamool block committee netas, and he was brutally murdered.

Tensions had been simmering for weeks, with Rahman openly protesting decisions that he felt favored one faction over another. Dhananjay Pramanik, a Deganga panchayat samiti member, described Rahman as a dedicated worker who held his booth post responsibly. The family's allegations highlight deeper fractures within the party at the grassroots level, where control over local resources and influence often sparks deadly feuds. No official party response has pinned blame yet, but the claims have stirred unrest among supporters.

Police Probe All Angles as Tensions Rise

Law enforcement has swung into action, registering a case and sending the body for postmortem at Basirhat District Hospital after initial checks at Haroa Rural Hospital. Basirhat SP Alaknanda Bhowal confirmed that investigators are exploring every possibility, from intra-party disputes to business rivalries. No arrests have been made so far, but police are scrutinizing Rahman's recent activities, phone records, and known enmities. The timing adds urgency, with the district slated for voting in the upcoming assembly polls.

This incident isn't isolated; similar cases of violence linked to TMC internal conflicts have surfaced recently, including a booth convenor shot dead in Bankura district. There, family members also alleged factional feuds, while local leaders countered by accusing opposition parties like the BJP. In both scenarios, autopsies and probes are underway without breakthroughs. The pattern raises questions about party discipline and safety for foot soldiers who keep the machinery running. Community leaders urge calm, but protests have already erupted near the discovery site, demanding swift justice.

As the investigation unfolds, residents are on edge, wondering if this is just another chapter in West Bengal's turbulent political landscape. Political violence has long plagued the state, often blurring lines between party loyalty and personal vendettas. Authorities have deployed extra forces to prevent escalation, but the shadow of doubt lingers over TMC's local units. In summary, the savage killing of TMC booth chief Kazi Masiur Rahman underscores deepening factional divides within the party, as claimed by grieving relatives, while police delve into motives ahead of crucial elections. The community awaits answers to restore peace.